The following is excerpted from an online article posted by Barna
Only 14 percent of married parents fall into Barna’s “Resilient” category, while more than a third (36%) are classified as “Fragile.” Because resilient families represent such a small share of the population, their experiences offer a valuable window into the conditions and practices most closely associated with family resilience. Examining the differences between these groups helps illuminate how families—and those who support them—can strengthen the foundations that allow resilience to take root and grow.
Here are three crucial insights to glean from resilient families.
1. Resilient Families Practice Repair, Not Avoidance
Healthy families don’t avoid conflict—they repair it. Resilience is shaped less by the absence of tension and more by consistent patterns of accountability and repair that preserve trust and emotional connection over time.
2. Resilient Families Seek Support After Hardship
Resilience isn’t about being spared from hardship. It’s about not walking through hardship alone. Families are more likely to remain resilient when they have access to trusted sources of care—and when seeking support is viewed as a strength rather than a failure.
3. Resilient Families Engage Beyond the Household
Resilience is strengthened when families share practices that connect them beyond the household. Consistent, collective engagement helps reinforce relational bonds and provides stability during times of strain.
Source: Barna
https://www.barna.com/trends/resilient-families/