Family Sacrifice: Models, Research and Interventions

Family sacrifice is a phenomenon central to the work of most family psychologists, yet there are few theoretical or empirical works in this area. The current paper proposes a systemic model of family sacrifice. The model posits that family resiliency can be strengthened by assessing and addressing how patterns of family sacrifice affect three discreet but interacting narratives: the independence-dependence of the person-in-need (PIN); the cost/ benefits to the one making the sacrifice, and the costs/benefits to the rest of the family system. After proposing an initial working definition of family sacrifice, research on 7 empirically derived factors that affect family sacrifice are reviewed with a view towards translating the findings for family practice. Four clinical intervention strategies are described to help sacrificing families: a newly described narrative approach that helps client re-author the family sacrifice story by creating a flexible narrative that balances the three interlocking storylines, coping skills interventions, social support interventions, and acceptance and commitment strategies. Throughout the paper, relevant research is cited with the goal of translating both basic and applied findings into clinical wisdom.