Integrating resilience processes in the family stress model

The family stress model of economic hardship (FSM; Conger & Conger, 2002; Conger et al., 1991) provided one of the first empirically tested models to explain the mechanisms linking economic disadvantage to children's well-being and remains relevant and central to a wide range of families-both in the United States and globally-today. However, the identification of resilience processes that buffer, counteract, or mitigate the stress processes outlined in the model has remained limited. The collection of articles in this special issue of the Journal of Family Psychology seeks to advance FSM scholarship through incorporating empirical tests of resilience processes within an FSM framework. The articles reflect how the FSM can address stress processes experienced by diverse families, as well as the strengths and resources that help them adapt and succeed. Two invited commentaries are also included. The first provides a brief social history of the FSM and future directions, and the second provides a synthesis and critique of the articles, as well as where scholarship on this topic can advance in the future. In this introduction, the authors provide a summary of prior research utilizing the FSM, an overview of the special issue, and directions for future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).