ABSTRACT
The "power and vitality of the family/' we trust, were obvious throughout the chapters in this volume, focusing on the struggles of the families of catastrophe. The powerful catastrophes which rocked these families have left lasting memories, though often subtle and indirect. As you considered each of the special cases of these families and the millions they represent who are caught in similar catastrophes, we hope that you came to recognize the remarkable similarities among families in crisis. For although the sources of stress may be different-emerging from inside the boundaries of the family or imposed from outside-the characteristic patterns of family reactions to stress are detectable across situations, family structures, and time. Especially for those of you who have read both volumes in this Stress and the Family series, the generic elements of stress and coping within families should be obvious.
