Scale Overview
The Self-Report Family Instrument – SFI was developed by W. Robert Beavers, Robert B. Hampson, Y. F. Hulgus (1985). It is designed to measure Family functioning and competence. The scale is intended for use with Families (adults and adolescents).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 36 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Family Health/Competence, Conflict, Cohesion, Expressiveness, Leadership, Family Communication.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Family Health/Competence |
2,3,4,6,12,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,24,25,27,28,33,35,36 |
19 |
| Conflict |
5,6,7,8,10,14,18,24,25,30,31,34 |
12 |
| Cohesion |
2,15,19,27,36 |
5 |
| Expressiveness |
1,9,13,20,22 |
5 |
| Leadership |
8,16,32 |
3 |
| Family Communication |
11,23,26,29 |
4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Fits our family very well, 2 = Fits our family well, 3 = Fits our family somewhat, 4 = Does not fit our family well, 5 = Does not fit our family at all.
The scale includes 16 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 36 to 180. Interpretation guidelines:
- Healthy/Competent Family Functioning: 36 – 72
- Adequate Family Functioning: 73 – 108
- Borderline Family Functioning: 109 – 144
- Severely Dysfunctional Family Functioning: 145 – 180
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha ranges from .84 to .93 for subscales.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.