Family resilience within long distance marriages requires strong relational processes and effective coping strategies to manage the unique stressors arising from physical separation. This study examines the influence of family interaction, psychological coping strategies, and economic coping strategies on family resilience among 60 husbands who had lived apart from their spouses for at least six months and had children. Respondents were selected through purposive sampling, consisting of 30 husbands working away from home and 30 husbands remaining at home. Overall, most respondents were categorized as moderate in family interaction, coping strategies, and family resilience. Independent t-tests revealed significant differences between groups, with husbands working away reporting higher levels of spousal communication, coping abilities, and family belief systems. Correlation analyses showed that psychological coping strategies were positively associated with husbands’ length of education. Economic coping strategies demonstrated positive associations with husbands’ education, wives’ education, and husbands’ occupation, while showing a negative association with wives’ employment status. Coping strategies exhibited positive correlations with family resilience. Regression analysis indicated that family resilience was significantly influenced by family interaction and family income, whereas psychological and economic coping strategies did not show significant direct effects. These findings suggest that although coping strategies contribute to resilience, they may operate indirectly through family processes rather than exerting a direct influence. Given that family interaction emerged as the strongest and most significant predictor, efforts to strengthen resilience among long-distance marriage couples should prioritize enhancing the quality of communication, emotional connection, and shared decision-making within the family system.

Authors:
Defina Defina, IPB University, Indonesia
Mochammad Fikri Noor Hidayat, IPB University, Indonesia
Diah Krisnatuti, IPB University, Indonesia
Risda Rizkillah, IPB Univeristy, Indonesia
Salsa Bela Frisilia Agustin, IPB University, Indonesia
Sosteness Jerome Nakamo, Institute of Rural Development Planning, Tanzania

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Defina, S.S., M.Si., is an Associate Professor of Bahasa and Family Communication at the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology (FEMA), IPB University, Indonesia

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