The purpose of this study was to investigate the resilience displayed by families raising
children with disabilities and behavior problems. The question is why do some families do
well when others, exposed to similar stressors, struggle to keep their family life running? A
stratified (by child age group) random sample of 538 families raising children with
disabilities in Alberta, Canada took part. Participants completed the Family Life Survey,
which incorporated measures of child behavior problems, social–ecological resources and
family-level ‘outcomes’. Families raising children with disabilities and behavior problems
‘do well’ under conditions of high social support and low financial hardship. In contrast,
families with low levels of social support and high levels of financial hardship typically
struggle, even when the number or intensity of child behavior problems is low. The study
findings are consistent with the view that ‘resilience’ has more to do with the availability
and accessibility of culturally relevant resources than with intrinsic, individual or family
factors. With respect to family-level outcomes, strengthening social relationships and
ameliorating financial hardship may be more important than behavior modification