Caribbean Family Resilience: A Mixed Methods Arts-Informed Research

Abstract

The challenges that Caribbean families encounter are multidimensional: social, economic, and environmental (Lacey et al., 2017). As a culture that values the influence of families (Barrow, 1996), it is unknown how they cope with difficulties. The present study was guided by the research question: What are the experiences and resources of family resilience among English-speaking Caribbean families? This mixed methods research study explored family resilience among Caribbean families. The qualitative component was an arts-informed phenomenological design of interviews and artmaking of 19 families. During the same phase, 179 persons completed a survey on their family’s experiences through the Family Resilience Assessment Scale (Sixbey, 2005). 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. To support family resilience, a multisystemic approach should be considered, which includes storytelling, faith and spirituality, administration of the Family Resilience Assessment Scale, and the extended family.