Self-Report Family Instrument (SFI)
A 36-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure family competence, conflict, cohesion, expressiveness, and leadership.
Scale Development & Technical Details
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. The scale is intended for use with Families, adults, and adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 36 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Health/Competence, Conflict, Cohesion, Expressiveness, Leadership, Family Communication.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| 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 some, 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:
- Competent / Healthy Family Functioning: 36 – 72
- Moderate Family Functioning: 73 – 120
- Severe Family Dysfunction: 121 – 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 the 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.