Double ABC-X Model of Family Stress and Coping

The double ABC-X model of family stress and coping developed by Hamilton McCubbin and Joan Patterson is an extension of the original ABCX family stress model. The double ABC-X incorporates both the pre-crisis and post-crisis variables to the model, thus making the extended model a more comprehensive and realistic picture of how families cope with unexpected stressors. The double ABC-X model is often used to explain health crises due to the complexity and long-term impact of the event on families. Health crises may include: death, the diagnosis of a life-threatening and/or chronic illness (e.g., cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, lupus, addiction); unexpected injury (such as broken bones or loss of limb); and even mental illness (depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder). While this list is ...