Family Hardiness Index – FHI
Measures the internal strengths, durability, and coping resources of the family unit under stress.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Family Hardiness Index – FHI was developed by M.A. McCubbin, H.I. McCubbin, & A.I. Thompson (1986). It is designed to measure Family Hardiness. The scale is intended for use with Families / Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Co-oriented Commitment, Confidence, Challenge, Control.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Co-oriented Commitment | 7,9,11,13,18 | 5 |
| Confidence | 5,6,8,10 | 4 |
| Challenge | 12,14,15,16,17 | 5 |
| Control | 1,2,3,4,19,20 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = False, 1 = Mostly false, 2 = Mostly true, 3 = Totally true.
The scale includes 9 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 60. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Family Hardiness: 0 – 20
- Moderate Family Hardiness: 21 – 40
- High Family Hardiness: 41 – 60
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.