Family Resilience in The Face of Grief And Loss: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This systematic review examines research on family resilience in the context of bereavement. Drawing on studies conducted across diverse cultural contexts, the review highlights key elements that enhance resilience, including extended family relationships, rituals, social support, cultural inluences, and structured interventions. Findings reveal the signiicant role of extended families in alleviating pressure on nuclear families, fostering shared values, and reinforcing cultural identity. Rituals are highlighted as essential mechanisms for promoting open grieving and strengthening familial bonds, while social support emerges as a universal factor enhancing coping capacity. Additionally, structured interventions, such as the Family Bereavement Program (FBP), are highlighted for their effectiveness in equipping families with tools for effective communication, emotional regulation, and long-term adaptation. These indings validate and expand upon existing theories of family resilience, providing actionable insights for practitioners and researchers. The review concludes by recommending future studies to explore the interaction of resilience-building components in diverse cultural contexts and develop intervention programs to better support bereaved families.