Boundaries and cohesion interact with each other. Boundaries may be open or closed; they may or may not be accessible to interaction with people that are on the outside of the subsystem. Boundaries help define families' bonding relationships. Family cohesion refers to family members' close emotional bonding with each other and to the level of independence they feel within the family system. Cohesion exists across a continuum, with high disengagement on one end and high enmeshment on the other. It has been noted by some parents that cohesion can be brought to a family by using humor as a strategy. When families are highly cohesive, boundaries among their subsystems are blurred or weak. The extent of cohesion may depend partially on each family's cultural beliefs. Positive outcomes accrue for familie's when family cohesion is balanced.
Adaptability refers to the family's ability to change in response to situational and developmental stress. Like it is with a family's cohesion, adaptation is influenced by family values and cultural background. Adaptability can be viewed in continuum. At one end are families who may be unable or unwilling to change in response to stress. At the other end are families who are changing constantly, so much so that they cause significant confusion within the family system. The ability to be flexible and to adapt to life changes contributes significantly to positive adjustment. Family members often value identifying a range of choices when life changes happen and going back and forth about the best option for the family while also maintaining a strong commitment to each other and the family