Family resilience among Caribbean families: A mixed methods arts-informed study

The purpose of this convergent parallel mixed methods study was to gain a practical understanding of family resilience among English-speaking Caribbean families. The study was guided by the overarching research question: What are the experiences and resources of family resilience among English-speaking Caribbean families? The qualitative component was an arts-informed phenomenological design, while the quantitative part was a survey design. There were 19 families interviewed face-to-face or online for the qualitative component. After each interview, families created art to depict their experiences of family resilience. During the same phase, 179 persons completed a survey that contained the Family Resilience Assessment Scale, (FRAS; Sixbey, 2005) and demographic questions through pen-and-paper or online. One person in each family interview also completed the survey. The results provided insights into the experiences and resources that aid English-speaking Caribbean families in growing from their challenges. A one-way analysis of variance revealed that there was no significant difference in the type of family on family resilience, F (5, 145) = 2.08, p = .07. A multiple linear regression showed that the overall model had a significant relationship between family resilience and socioeconomics, education, and family size, F (3, 139) = 3.40, R2 = .052, p < .05. However, family resilience only has a significant relationship with socioeconomic resources. Higher socioeconomic scores were associated with lower family resilience scores. The themes for the qualitative results explained that the Caribbean families rely primarily on their internal attributes that include close bonds and their extended family. Yet, faith and spirituality seem to supersede other support systems. The results converged between the theme on financial challenges as strength for family resilience and statistical results on socioeconomic resources significant relationship with family resilience, reliance on internal family connectedness theme converged with no significant difference in family type, and the barriers to family resilience theme converged with no significant relationship between family resilience by family size and education. English-speaking Caribbean families have complex resources that support family resilience. In order to support family resilience, a multisystemic approach should be considered which includes storytelling, faith and spirituality, the FRAS, and the extended family.