A Systematic Review of Family Stress Theory in Mental Health Research (2010–2020)

To better assist families experiencing stress, providers must understand the translation of family stress theory to their clinical application. The present study synthesized knowledge by performing a systematic review of journal articles published from 2010 to 2020. Studies were systematically screened, and 23 empirical articles met final inclusion. We reviewed how family stress theory was used in previous studies and what recommendations were suggested for mental health providers. Our findings revealed that family stress theory has primarily been used as a theoretical framework to measure stress variables. To advance the application of family stress theory in clinical work, we suggest a number of implications for providers based on our findings to better meet the needs of families.