Family Distress Index – FDI
Measures the level of family distress, conflict, and vulnerability experienced by family members.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Family Distress Index – FDI was developed by Hamilton I. McCubbin, Anne I. Thompson, & Karen Elver (1993). It is designed to measure Family Distress. The scale is intended for use with Families.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 8 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not a problem, 1 = Small problem, 2 = Medium problem, 3 = Large problem.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 24. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Distress: 0 – 8
- Moderate Distress: 9 – 16
- High Distress: 17 – 24
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.87.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.