Knowledge gained from the theoretical and empirical literature on social support theory, family systems theory, and social ecology provide the foundation for a model which studies stress, support systems, and coping patterns within the family. Puerto Rican (N=87) and Italian (N=49) families were interviewed to identify stress factors and coping mechanisms used in the family with young children and mothers, older adults, physically or emotionally disturbed persons, and juvenile/adult offenders. For Hispanic families, major stresses included child care problems, health care for the elderly, constant vigilance and attention to the handicapped, and disruption after criminal encounters. Coping styles differed depending on the resources of the focal functioning person. An inverse relationship existed between users of immediate and extended family resources. The Italian families, despite educational and linguistic handicaps, had considerable personal coping resources as well as resources throughout their individual family systems, particularly from female relatives. There were also strong ethnic neighborhood support for both groups. (Author/HLM)