Navigate Chronic Illness: Antecedents and Consequences of Family Resilience—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Chronic illnesses impose significant burdens on patients and their families, emphasizing the need for effective coping mechanisms like family resilience. This systematic review examined the antecedents and consequences of family resilience in chronic illness care. Electronic databases were searched for articles published between 2018 and April 2024. Eligible studies focused on antecedents and consequences of family resilience in families managing chronic illness. Twenty-six studies were included in the review. Five key antecedents were identified: caregiver burden, coping, dyadic communication, self-efficacy, and social support. The five primary consequences were caregiver burden, psychological distress, quality of life, resilience, and self-management. These findings provide a foundation for developing targeted interventions to enhance family resilience, emphasizing the importance of resilience-building programs in healthcare. By addressing both immediate needs and long-term challenges, these interventions can empower families to better manage the complexities of chronic illness, ultimately improving outcomes for both patients and caregivers.