Family Efficacy within Ethnically Diverse Families: A Qualitative Study

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12149
• Published date: 01 March 2017
• Author: Cleopatra H. Caldwell,Tsui‐Sui A. Kao
• Date: 01 March 2017

Family Efficacy within Ethnically Diverse Families:

A Qualitative Study

TSUI-SUI A. KAO*

CLEOPATRA H. CALDWELL

†

Family efficacy, which refers to a family’s belief in its ability to produce a desired out-

come, has been shown to protect adolescents from risky health behaviors. Few stu dies have

examined family efficacy within diverse populations, however, and understanding of how

efficacy is framed and formed within the context of cultural and familial values is limited.

This descriptive qualitative study examined sources of family efficacy within ethnically

and socioeconomically diverse families, evaluating how such families develop and exercise

family efficacy with the intent to protect adolescents from risky health behaviors (i.e., mari-

juana and alcohol use and early sexual activity). We collected qualitative data via two

semi-structured interviews, 4–6 months apart, with 31 adolescents (ages 12–14) and their

parent/s, for total of 148 one-on-one interviews. Thematic analysis identified three distinct

domains of family efficacy: relational, pragmatic, and value-laden. Prior experiences and

cultural background influenced the domain/s utilized by families. Significantly, families

that consistently tapped into all three domains were able to effectively manage personal

and family difficulties; these families also had family strategies in place to prevent adoles-

cents from risky behaviors. Health professionals could utilize this concept of multidimen-

sional family efficacy to promote health within culturally diverse families.

Keywords: Adolescents; Risky behavior; Hea lth behavior

Fam Proc 56:217–233, 2017

The emergent construct of family efficacy is significantly associated with adolescent

health behaviors (Bandura, Caprara, Barbaranelli, Regalia, & Scabini, 2011; Kao,

Lupia, & Clement-Stone, 2014; Profugo, Mendoza, & Magno, 2009) and provides an oppor-

tunity to engage strengths-based efforts to inhibit risky adolescent behavior. But there is

limited understanding of how family efficacy is framed and formed within families. This is

particularly evident for ethnically diverse families, who have unique historical experi-

ences and distinct cultural norms. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to

examine and define sources of family efficacy and to evaluate how ethnically diverse fami-

lies develop or exercise family efficacy with the intent to protect adolescents from risky

health behavior.

*School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

†

School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Tsui-Sui A. Kao, School of Nursing, Uni-

versity of Michigan, 400 N. Ingalls, RM 3347, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482. E-mail: anniekao@umich.edu.

The authors thank the participants, who generously shared their experiences. We also would like to

extend our appreciation to the research assistants who have been involved in this project. We also would

like to recognize editorial help from Sara Versluis, MA. This study was funded by a grant awarded to the

first author from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholar Program (Grant ID #

69345).

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Family Process, Vol. 56, No. 1, 2017 ©2015 Family Process Institute

doi: 10.1111/famp.12149

Strengths-Based Approaches

Among diverse populations, cultural bias and stereotyping inhibit culturally resp onsive

care (Sam & Berry, 2010). Rather than focus on deficits, Walsh (2003) maintained that

practitioners can avoid assumptions or biased interpretations of clients’ cultural perspec-

tives by focusing on sources of strength, such as how families foster and exert strengths

within their cultural context. A body of literature (Fang & Schinke, 2012; Hodge, 2001;

Kumpfer & Alvarado, 2003) supports the notion that strengths-based investigations and

interventions provide the most efficacious medium for supporting and effecting behavior

change.

Within family research, strengths-based approaches are often linked with the concept

of family resilience, which is defined as familial traits that lead to successful adaptation

and coping in response to a significant stressor or adversity (Walsh, 2003). Family resil-

ience is often used when discussing and assessing a family’s ability to overcome chal-

lenges and crises (Jaffee, Caspi, Moffitt, Polo-Tom

as, & Taylor, 2007). But while

resilience is an extensive, multifaceted concept, it is “mainly defined by coping adaptively

with traumatic stressors” (Schwarzer & Warner, 2013, p. 140). While certainly not unre-

lated to resiliency, personal and collective efficacy beliefs provide an avenue to examine

family strengths that may exist even in the absence of stressors or trauma (Bandura,

2000).

Family Efficacy and Family Functioning

Efficacy beliefs refer to an individual’s or a group of individuals’ beliefs in the ability to

perform behaviors to produce desired outcomes (Bandura et al., 2011). The construct is

derived from social cognitive theory, which frames human development and change as an

agenetic process. Individuals and groups are agents who have the capacity to influence

their functioning and experiences; efficacy is belief in their ability to do so. Efficacy beliefs

are the “central mechanism” through which human agency is exercised (Bandura et al.,

2011).

Within the family group, efficacy beliefs are interconnected indicators of family func-

tioning (Caprara, Regalia, Scabini, Barbaranelli, & Bandura, 2004). Bandura (2006) and

Bandura et al. (2011) have suggested that individual efficacy beliefs, such as self-efficacy

or parenting efficacy, contribute to a sense of collective family efficacy. In particular,

parenting efficacy fosters healthy parental behaviors and plays an important role in child

development. Parenting efficacy is also related to a lower level of family stress and

reduced behavioral problems in children. Similarly, adolescent filial efficacy, which refers

to a child’s capability to establish and maintain good parental relationships while main-

taining self-autonomy, is related to family satisfaction, open communication, better paren-

tal monitoring, and fewer escalated family conflicts (Caprara, Pastorelli, Regalia, Scabini,

& Bandura, 2005).

The construct of family efficacy suggests that the family works collectively as an inter-

connected unit to overcome various situations and conflicts. Parenting efficacy, for exam -

ple, is linked to positive parenting behaviors and constructive strategies during family

crises (Leidy, Guerra, & Toro, 2012). Jarrett (1997) noted that family and parenting

efficacy buffered disadvantaged African American adolescents from risks associated with

inner-city residency. In an environment with supportive parenting efficacy, childr en are

more likely to complete high school, forgo premature childbearing, and participate in pro-

social activities (Leidy et al., 2012). Furthermore, studies show that family efficacy is

effective in raising children who practice healthy behaviors. For example, a close parent–

child relationship is related to lower levels of marijuana use and risky sexual behaviors

among children (Lac et al., 2011). Parental connectedness and involvement are recognized

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