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Community Social Organization and Military Families: Theoretical Perspectives on Transitions, Contexts, and Resilience
Author(s) -
Mancini Jay A.,
O'Neal Catherine Walker,
Martin James A.,
Bowen Gary L.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of family theory and review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.454
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1756-2589
pISSN - 1756-2570
DOI - 10.1111/jftr.12271
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , social psychology , psychological resilience , vulnerability (computing) , collective action , sociology , competence (human resources) , public relations , psychology , political science , computer security , artificial intelligence , politics , computer science , law
The social organization theory of action and change accounts for transitions families face in community contexts. This perspective aligns with family stress and resilience theories, including the contextual model of family stress. Our discussion focuses on transitions of military families, including the continually changing nature of military family life. The military environment provides an opportunity for understanding family vulnerability and resilience from a community perspective, in effect, a perspective centered on contexts. Contexts include matters that families have control over and those they are unable to affect. The roles of shared responsibility and collective competence in moving families and communities forward are discussed, as are pivotal roles of informal networks and formal systems. Findings that align with this theorizing include influence of the military system and culture on families, as well as how sense of community emerges as a pivotal factor for family well‐being.