Recent developments in family stress and coping research and a review of data and observations of families in a war-induced crisis situation led to an investigation of the relationship between a stressor and family outcomes. The study, based on the Double ABCX Model in which A (the stressor event) interacts with B (the family's crisis-meeting resources) which interacts with C (the family's interpretation of the event) which produces X (the crisis), was designed to study variables that discriminate between balanced and imbalanced family units faced with the chronic strain of raising a child with cerebral palsy. The 217 families responded to questionnaires about family life changes and parental coping. The balanced group revealed moderate scores on cohesion and adaptability subscales. This group was able to change their power structure, role relationships, and rules in response to stress. The imbalanced families were characterized by rigidity and chaos. The data partially support a multivariate and interactive approach to the study of differences between balanced and imbalanced families. (JAC)