Family Environment Scale – Chinese Version

Description

The family is the first environment in which children live, and parents are the first teachers of children. As the primary place for the growth of adolescents, the conscious moral education and the unconscious atmosphere of family life have a significant impact on their development. Conflicts in parents’ marriage, disputes, and subsequent divorces in the family can lead to stronger conflicts regarding child-rearing issues, resulting in children being more likely to face rejection from their parents. Consequently, children’s negative emotions may increase their aggressiveness through imitation. Research indicates that the prevalence of poor learning, antisocial behavior, criminal activity, and family environment are closely related. The Chinese Version of the Family Environment Scale (Family Environment Scale-Chinese Version, FES-CV), developed by Moss et al. in 1981 and translated and revised by Fei Lipeng et al., includes ten factors: intimacy, emotional expression, conflict, independence, achievement orientation, intellectual-cultural orientation, active-recreational orientation, moral-religious emphasis, organization, and control.

Authors and Contact Email

Moss et al. (1981) and Fei Lipeng et al. (revision). Contact information not available.

Purpose

The scale aims to assess the family environment-related factors that influence adolescents’ development, focusing on aspects such as support, emotional expression, conflict, and moral values.

Test Year

1981

Administration Method and Scoring

The questionnaire consists of 90 items about family situations. Respondents decide which items reflect their family situation by marking “√” for those that are true or mostly true and “×” for those that are not.

Reliability and Validity

Information not available.

Factors and Subscales

1. 亲密度 (Cohesion): The degree of mutual commitment, help, and support among family members.
2. 情感表达 (Expressiveness): The degree to which family members are encouraged to openly express their emotions.
3. 矛盾性 (Conflict): The degree of open expression of anger, aggression, and conflict among family members.
4. 独立性 (Independence): The degree of family members’ self-esteem, confidence, and autonomy.
5. 成功性 (Achievement Orientation): The extent to which general activities (such as school and work) are turned into achievement or competitive activities.
6. 知识性 (Intellectual-Cultural Orientation): The degree of interest in political, social, intellectual, and cultural activities.
7. 娱乐性 (Active-Recreational Orientation): The extent of involvement in social and recreational activities.
8. 道德宗教观 (Moral-Religious Emphasis): The importance placed on ethics, religion, and values.
9. 组织性 (Organization): The clarity of organization and structure when arranging family activities and responsibilities.
10. 控制性 (Control): The extent to which fixed family rules and procedures are used to arrange family life.

Keywords

Family environment, adolescents, education, Family Environment Scale (FES), conflict, support.

Items in Chinese

1. 我们家庭成员都总是互相给予最大的帮助和支持。
2. 家庭成员总是把自己的感情藏在心里，不向其他家庭成员透露。
3. 家中经常吵架。
4. 在家中我们很少自己单独活动。
5. 家庭成员无论做什么事情都是尽力而为的。
6. 我们家经常谈论政治和社会问题。
7. 大多数周末和晚上家庭成员都是在家中度过，而不外出参加社交和娱乐活动。
8. 我们都认为不管有多大困难，子女应该首先满足老人的各种需求。
9. 家中较大的活动都是经过仔细安排的。
10. 家里人很少强求其他家庭成员遵守家规。
11. 在家里我们感到很无聊。
12. 在家里我们想说什么就可以说什么。
13. 家庭成员彼此之间很少公开发怒。
14. 我们都非常鼓励家里人具有独立精神。
15. 为了有好的前途，家庭成员都花了几乎所有的精力。
16. 我们很少外出听讲座、看电影或去博物馆以及看展览。
17. 家庭成员常外出到朋友家去玩并在一起吃饭。
18. 家庭成员都认为做事应顺应社会风气。
19. 一般来说，我们大家都注意把家收拾得井井有条。
20. 家中很少有固定的生活规律和家规。
21. 家庭成员愿意花很大的精力做家里的事。
22. 在家中诉苦很容易使家人厌烦。
23. 有时家庭成员发怒时摔东西。
24. 家庭成员都独立思考问题。
25. 家庭成员都认为使生活水平提高比其他任何事情都重要。
26. 我们都认为学会新的知识比其他任何事都重要。
27. 家中没人参加各种体育活动。
28. 家庭成员在生活上经常帮助周围的老年人和残疾人。
29. 在我们家里，当需要用某些东西时却常常找不到。
30. 在我们家吃饭和睡觉的时间都是一成不变的。
31. 在我们家里有一种和谐一致的气氛。
32. 家中每一个人都可以诉说自己的困难和烦恼。
33. 家庭成员之间极少发脾气。
34. 我们家的每个人的出入是完全自由的。
35. 我们都相信在任何情况下竞争是好事。
36. 我们对文化活动不那么感兴趣。
37. 我们常看电影或体育比赛、外出郊游等。
38. 我们认为行贿受贿是一种可以接受的现象。
39. 在我们家很重视做事要准时。
40. 我们家做任何事都有固定的方式。
41. 家里有事时很少有人自愿去做。
42. 家庭成员经常公开地表达相互之间的感情。
43. 家庭成员之间常互相责备和批评。
44. 家庭成员做事时很少考虑家里其他人的意见。
45. 我们总是不断反省自己，强迫自己尽力把事情做得一次比一次好。
46. 我们很少讨论有关科技知识方面的问题。
47. 我们家每个人都对 1～2 项娱乐活动特别感兴趣。
48. 我们认为无论怎么样，晚辈都应该接受长辈的劝导。
49. 我们家的人常常改变他们的计划。
50. 我们家非常强调要遵守固定的生活规律和家规。
51. 家庭成员都总是衷心地互相支持。
52. 如果在家里说出对家事的不满，会有人觉得不舒服。
53. 家庭成员有时互相打架。
54. 家庭成员都依赖家人的帮助去解决他们遇到的困难。
55. 家庭成员不太关心职务升级、学习成绩等问题。
56. 家中有人玩乐器。
57. 家庭成员除工作学习外，不常进行娱乐活动。
58. 家庭成员都自愿维护公共环境卫生。
59. 家庭成员认真地保持自己房间的整洁。
60. 家庭成员夜间可以随意外出，不必事先与家人商量。
61. 我们家的集体精神很少。
62. 我们家里可以公开地谈论家里的经济问题。
63. 家庭成员的意见产生分歧时，我们都一直回避它，以保持和气。
64. 家庭成员希望家里人独立解决问题。
65. 我们家里人对获得成就并不那么积极。
66. 家庭成员常去图书馆。
67. 家庭成员有时按个人爱好或兴趣参加娱乐性学习。
68. 家庭成员都认为要死守道德教条去办事。
69. 在我们家每个人的分工是明确的。
70. 在我们家没有严格的规则来约束我们。
71. 家庭成员彼此之间都一直合得来。
72. 家庭成员之间讲话时都很注意避免伤害对方的感情。
73. 家庭成员常彼此想胜过对方。
74. 如果家庭成员经常独自活动，会伤家里其他人的感情。
75. 先工作后享受是我们家的老习惯。
76. 在我们家看电视比读书更重要。
77. 家庭成员常在业余时间参加家庭以外的社交活动。
78. 我们认为无论怎么样，离婚是不道德的。
79. 我们家花钱没有计划。
80. 我们家的生活规律或家规是不能改变的。
81. 家庭的每个成员都一直得到充分的关心。
82. 我们家经常自发地谈论家人很敏感的问题。
83. 家人有矛盾时，有时会大声争吵。
84. 在我们家确实鼓励成员都自由活动。
85. 家庭成员常常与别人比较，看谁的学习工作好。
86. 家庭成员很喜欢音乐、艺术和文学。
87. 我们娱乐活动的方式是看电视、听广播而不是外出活动。
88. 我们认为提高家里的生活水平比严守道德标准还要重要。
89. 我们家饭后必须立即有人去洗碗。
90. 在家里违反家规者会受到严厉的批评。

Items in English

1. Our family members always give each other the greatest help and support.
2. Family members always hide their feelings and do not reveal them to other family members.
3. There are frequent arguments at home.
4. We rarely engage in solitary activities at home.
5. Family members do their best in everything they do.
6. We often discuss political and social issues in our family.
7. Most weekends and evenings, family members spend time at home rather than going out for social and recreational activities.
8. We all believe that regardless of how difficult it is, children should first meet the needs of the elderly.
9. Significant activities at home are carefully arranged.
10. Family members rarely demand that other family members adhere to family rules.
11. We feel very bored at home.
12. We can say whatever we want at home.
13. Family members rarely express anger publicly.
14. We strongly encourage family members to have an independent spirit.
15. Family members invest almost all their energy for a good future.
16. We rarely go out to attend lectures, watch movies, or visit museums and exhibits.
17. Family members often go out to friends’ homes to play and eat together.
18. Family members believe that one should conform to social customs when doing things.
19. Generally, we all pay attention to keep the house tidy.
20. There are rarely fixed routines and house rules at home.
21. Family members are willing to expend considerable energy on household chores.
22. Complaining at home easily annoys family members.
23. Sometimes family members throw things when they are angry.
24. Family members think independently.
25. Family members believe that improving the standard of living is more important than anything else.
26. We all think it is more important to learn new knowledge than anything else.
27. No one in the family participates in various sports activities.
28. Family members often help nearby elderly people and the disabled in life.
29. In our home, we often cannot find things when we need them.
30. Our meal and sleep times are always the same at home.
31. There is a harmonious atmosphere in our home.
32. Everyone in the family can express their difficulties and worries.
33. Family members rarely lose their temper with each other.
34. Everyone in our family is completely free to come and go.
35. We believe that competition is a good thing in any situation.
36. We are less interested in cultural activities.
37. We often watch movies or sports events, or go on outings.
38. We think that bribery is an acceptable phenomenon.
39. We place great importance on punctuality in our family.
40. We have a fixed way of doing everything in our family.
41. When there is work at home, very few people volunteer to do it.
42. Family members often openly express their feelings towards each other.
43. Family members often blame and criticize each other.
44. Family members rarely consider the opinions of others when doing things.
45. We are always reflecting on ourselves and forcing ourselves to do better each time.
46. We rarely discuss issues related to scientific knowledge.
47. Everyone in our family has a particular interest in 1-2 recreational activities.
48. We believe that in any case, juniors should accept the guidance of elders.
49. People in our family often change their plans.
50. We place great emphasis on adhering to fixed routines and family rules.
51. Family members always sincerely support each other.
52. If one expresses dissatisfaction with family matters at home, someone might feel uncomfortable.
53. Family members sometimes fight with each other.
54. Family members rely on family assistance to solve the difficulties they encounter.
55. Family members are not very concerned about promotions or academic performance.
56. Someone in the family plays a musical instrument.
57. Family members do not often participate in recreational activities besides work or study.
58. Family members willingly maintain public hygiene.
59. Family members carefully keep their rooms tidy.
60. Family members can go out freely at night without needing to consult with family beforehand.
61. There is rarely a spirit of togetherness in our family.
62. Economic issues can be openly discussed in our family.
63. When family members have differing opinions, we often avoid the issue to maintain harmony.
64. Family members hope that their family can independently solve problems.
65. People in our family are not very proactive about achieving accomplishments.
66. Family members often go to the library.
67. Family members sometimes participate in recreational learning based on personal interests.
68. Family members believe in adhering to moral dogma when doing things.
69. Everyone in our family has a clear division of labor.
70. There are no strict rules to constrain us in our family.
71. Family members always get along well with each other.
72. When talking, family members are careful to avoid hurting each other’s feelings.
73. Family members often compare themselves with others to see who does better in studying or working.
74. If family members often engage in solitary activities, it can hurt the feelings of others in the household.
75. Our family has a tradition of working first and enjoying later.
76. Watching television is more important than reading books in our family.
77. Family members often participate in social activities outside the family in their spare time.
78. We consider divorce to be immoral regardless of the circumstances.
79. We spend money without a plan in our family.
80. The routines or rules in our family cannot be changed.
81. Every family member always receives ample care.
82. We often spontaneously discuss sensitive issues among family members.
83. When family members have conflicts, they sometimes argue loudly.
84. We truly encourage family members to engage in free activities.
85. Family members often compare themselves with others to see who performs better in studies or work.
86. Family members enjoy music, art, and literature.
87. Our way of entertainment is watching television and listening to the radio rather than going out for activities.
88. We believe improving the family’s standard of living is more important than strictly adhering to moral standards.
89. Someone must wash the dishes immediately after meals in our family.
90. Those who violate family rules at home will receive severe criticism.

References

王雪琪. 大学生攻击性行为与网络游戏成瘾、家庭环境的关系研究[D].南华大学,2011.
原露露. 以家庭功能为焦点的唇腭裂患者照顾者家庭调适干预方案的构建[D].中国医科大学,2022.DOI:10.27652/d.cnki.gzyku.2022.000031.