The impact of high and low stress on the health of Lebanese families.

During the Lebanese war (1975-1991) families were subjected to a substantial number of war and nonwar life events that were shown to have a negative impact on family adaptation. The study was undertaken to classify and predict family adaptation outcomes in high and low perceived stress groups for war and nonwar life events. The study took the form of an analysis of cross-sectional data of families in Beirut. The cluster sample consisted of 438 families chosen at random. Variables included perceived stress for war and nonwar events, and health and interactional indicators of the outcome family adaptation assessed in terms of physical and psychological health, depression, and interpersonal and marital relationships. Families were classified into high/low stress based on their score for war and non-war life events. Based on discriminant function analysis, a significant difference existed between the high- and low-stress groups (for war, nonwar, and a combination of the two) on all predictor variables. Interpersonal relationships, physical health, and depression were the best predictors of membership in the high/low war stress groups. In the perceived nonwar stress groups, depression, interpersonal relationships, marital relations, and physical and psychological health were the best predictors separating high/low stress groups. When the combination score of war and nonwar stress was used, interpersonal relationships, physical health, depression, and marital relations were the best predictors distinguishing among the groups. Findings indicated a high degree of consistency in the prediction and classification of the high/low stress groups and for all stress categories. Families in the low-stress groups had a more positive adaptation than those in the high-stress groups and could be classified on the basis of their stress score. Families in the high-stress groups had more complaints than their counterparts in the low-stress groups. This classification may help mental health professionals understand how families adapt in response to normative and non-normative life situations.