Emerging Ideas. Families Together: Supporting family resilience during the COVID‐19 pandemic

• Published date: 01 July 2023
• Author: Kristine Marceau,Carlyn Kimiecik,Yumary Ruiz,Carolyn McCormick,Austin Toombs,Cezanne Elias,Nasreen Lalani,Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth
• Date: 01 July 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12781

BRIEF REPORT

Emerging Ideas. Families Together: Supporting

family resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic

Kristine Marceau

1

| Carlyn Kimiecik

2

| Yumary Ruiz

2

|

Carolyn McCormick

1

| Austin Toombs

3

| Cezanne Elias

1

|

Nasreen Lalani

4

| Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth

1

1

Department of Human Development and

Family Studies, Purdue University, West

Lafayette, IN

2

Department of Public Health, Purdue

University, West Lafayette, IN

3

Computer Graphics Technology Department,

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

4

School of Nursing, Purdue University, West

Lafayette, IN

Correspondence Kristine Marceau, 225 Hanley

Hall, Purdue University, 1202 W. State Street,

West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA.

Email: kristinemarceau@purdue.edu

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated a rapidly developed pro-

gram designed to support family resilience during the

COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Grounded in Walsh’s family resilience frame-

work, Families Tackling Tough Times Together (FT) dis-

seminated weekly evidence-informed content through a

public Facebook group, partner organizations, and on a

dedicated website.

Method: Facebook and website analytics and weekly brief

usage surveys (nwith at least one =74) documented pro-

gram use, and pre- and post-FT surveys (nwith at least

one =49) assessed family connectedness, positive outlook,

purpose in life, and stress.

Results: The program was widely used and received favor-

able feedback. Participants reported less stress in weeks

when they engaged in more program activities, and more

family connectedness in weeks when they spent more time

engaged in program materials. No significant changes

were observed, however, in overall family resilience, self-

efficacy, family functioning, or stress.

Conclusion: The FT program was widely used and appraised

positively. Program involvement was favorably correlated

with less stress and family connectedness within weeks,

although long-term changes post-program were not observed.

Author note We are grateful for financial support for this project from Lilly Endowment and from the Dean of the College of Health

and Human Sciences at Purdue University, as well as in-kind support from a large number of national, state, and local organizations

that helped to disseminate project materials to families. We thank all the faculty, staff, and students who produced or shared content.

Some aspects of this project were previously presented at the 2021 National Council on Family Relations Family Life Education

Summit.

Received: 25 August 2021 Revised: 16 February 2022 Accepted: 19 June 2022

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12781

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits

use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or

adaptations are made.

© 2022 The Authors. Family Relations published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of National Council on Family Relations.

Family Relations. 2023;72:665–679. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare 665