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Research Finds Hawai‘i
Families are Strong
A recent study conducted by UH Center
on the Family has found that nearly one-third of Hawai‘i’s families
practice the habits of strong, healthy families. The study found that despite
changes in family form and composition and unique challenges faced by Hawai‘i
families, the value these families hold for ‘ohana and their community,
and their great optimism in times of economic struggle sustains their commitment
to strong and healthy family habits.
Previous research has identified six characteristics or habits that strong families
across the world have in common:
• Commitment–Family members express
commitment to each other, for example, rearranging schedules to prioritize family
time, keeping promises and remaining dependable.
• Appreciation–Family members
show appreciation for one another, by expressing love and accentuating the positive
in each family member.
• Communication–Families develop
communication skills and make time to talk to each other, whether about everyday
matters or special issues.
• Time together–Families spend
quality time together, such as having meals, doing recreational activities,
and spending holidays and special occasions together.
• Shared values and beliefs–Family
members share values and beliefs, by practicing religious and cultural rituals,
extending themselves to others, and volunteering and caring for the community.
• Coping with stress–Families
cope with stress by pulling together to problem-solve and confront a crisis
rather than denying a problem exists.
Market Trends Pacific, Inc. surveyed a representative sample of 1,051 Hawai‘i
families throughout the state on behalf of the Center on the Family. The responses
were used by Center on the Family researchers to assess whether or not Hawai‘i
families practice the behaviors of strong families.
Nearly 30 percent of survey respondents statewide said they practice all six
behaviors of strong families, with even higher percentages found on the neighbor
islands—36 percent on the Big Island, 35 percent on Kaua‘i and 35
percent on Maui. The study also shows, however, that even more families practice
at least some of the six habits—69 percent of the families surveyed said
they practice five of the six behaviors regularly and 87 percent indicated applying
up to four of the six behaviors regularly.
"With an understanding of how the presence of these behaviors interacts
to strengthen overall family functioning, researchers can begin to see how families
can become strong. Fostering one or several of these behaviors can help develop
others," said Ivette Stern of Center on the Family. "Successful families
have to work to be successful and they don’t sail through life without
challenges. It is through constant effort and cooperation that families nurture
and develop their members and collectively grow strong, and as a society, we
can enhance the potential of this foundational unity by supporting actions and
policies that promote the behaviors that strengthen Hawai‘i’s families."
The study on Hawai‘i’s strong families was conducted as part of the
Hawai‘i Family
Touchstones project. The Center on the Family developed Hawai‘i Family
Touchstones to monitor the well being of families in the state. Relevant and
measurable indicators are tracked over time to provide an overview of Hawai‘i’s
families at a given point and in relation to the past. The complete study and
its results will be released at the beginning of next year.
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