Copyright © eContent Management Pty IAÁ. fournal ofFamily Studies (2009) 15: 245-259. Adaptability and cohesion of Greek families: Raising a child with a severe disability on the island of Rhodes AssiMiNA TSIBIDAKI* Lecturer, Special Educator, Department of Primary Education, University of the Aegean, Rhodes, Greece ANASTASIA TSAMPARLI Associate Professor, Clinical Psychologist, Department of Primary Education, University of the Aegean, Rhodes, Greece ABSTRACT The target of the study is to compare the adaptability and cohesion between 30 Greek families rais- ing a child with a severe disability and 30 families with children without disability. This study constitutes a qualitative survey with quantitative comparative elements. Data were collected using the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES-III) (Olson 1986) and semi- structured interviews. The findings suggest that there is no statistically significant difference between parents of both research groups on the cohesion, adaptability dimensions of family fimc- tioning, on family type and in how they wish their family functioning within the categories ofthese two dimensions. Both groups of parents estimate and wish their family to function in the 'healthy zone' according to the revised edition of the Olson Circumplex Model (Olson 1991). Keywords: adaptability; cohesion; disability; family functioning; periphery R esearch on family therapy proposes two basic ized by alluding to the two concepts at the extremes dimensions in family functioning: the senti- of enmeshment and disengagement (Olson, Russell wewiiî/coAwzo«, which refers to whether the mem- & Sprenkle 1980; Seligman &c Darling 2007). bers of the family feel isolated or close to their Enmeshment dsiá disengagement dse.hot\\M.\n\\ch\ns family, and the adaptability to changes (Olson terms. Enmeshment refers to the loss of autonomy 1993). Effective functioning of a family can be due to a blurring of interpersonal boundaries. Dis- facilitated or, on the contrary, be prevented depend- engagement is the psychological isolation that ing on its level of cohesion and adaptability (Min- results from overly rigid boundaries around individ- uchin, Rosman & Baker 1978). Adaptability refers uals and subsystems in afiimily(Nichols & Schartz, to the family's ability to change in response to a 1998). The effective function of a family system stressful situation. Cohesion can be best character- needs both the element of stability as well as the Correspondence to Assimina Tsibidaki, Department of Primary Education, School of Humanities Studies, University of the Aegean, 1 Dimokratias Street, Rhodes 85100, Creece. Tel: +30 6 937688018; Fax: +30 22 41062532; email: tsimpidaki@rhodes.aegean.gr. Volume 15, Issue 3, December 2009 JOURNAL OF FAMILY STUDIES 245