Combines items from the Family Assessment Measures‚ Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (Olson‚ Portner & Lavee‚ 1985)‚ and Moos Family Environment Scale (Moos & Moos‚ 1974).
1. My family and I usually see our problems the same way.
2. My family expects too much of me.
3. My family knows what I mean when I say something.
4. When I’m upset‚ my family knows what’s bothering me.
5. My family doesn’t care about me.
6. When someone in the family makes a mistake‚ I don’t makea big deal of it.
7. I argue a lot with my family about the importance of religion.
8. When my family has a problem‚ I have to solve it.
9. I do my share of duties in the family.
10. I often don’t understand what other family members are saying.
11. If someone in the family has upset me‚ I keep it to myself.
12. I stay out of other family members’ business.
13. I get angry when others in the family don’t do what I want.
14. I think education is much more important than my family does.
15. I have trouble accepting someone else’s answer to a family problem.
16. What I expect of the rest of the family is fair.
17. If I’m upset with another family member‚ I will let someone else tell them about it.
18. If I’m upset‚ I get over it quickly.
19. My family doesn’t let me be myself.
20. My family knows what to expect from me.
21. My family and I have the same views about what is right and wrong.
22. I keep on trying when things don’t work out in the family.
23. I am tired of being blamed for family problems.
24. Often I don’t say what I would like to because I can’t find the words.
25. I am able to let others in the family know how I really feel.
26. I really care about my family.
27. I’m not as responsible as I should be in the family.
28. My family and I have the same views about being successful.
29. When problems come up in my family‚ I let other people solve them.
30. My family complains that I always try to be the center of attention.
31. I’m available when others want to talk to me.
32. I take it out on my family when I’m upset.
33. I know I can count on the rest of my family.
34. I don’t need to be reminded what I have to do in the family.
35. I argue with my family about how to spend my spare time.
36. My family can depend on me in a crisis.
37. I never argue about who should do what in our family.
38. I listen to what other family members have to say‚ even when I disagree.
39. When I’m with my family‚ I get too upset too easily.
40. I worry too much about the rest of my family.
41. I always get my way in our family.
42. My family leaves it to me to decide what’s right and wrong.
43. Family members ask each other for help.
44. In solving problems‚ children’s suggestions are followed.
45. We approve of each other’s friends.
46. Children have a say in their discipline.
47. We like to do things with just our immediate family.
48. Different persons act as leaders in my family.
49. Family members feel closer to other family members than to people outside our family.
50. Our family changes its way of handling tasks.
51. Family members like to spend free time with each other.
52. Parent(s) and children discuss punishment together.
53. Family members feel very close to each other.
54. The children make the decisions in our family.
55. When our family gets together for activities‚ everybody is present.
56. Rules change in our family.
57. We can easily think of things to do together as a family.
58. We shift household responsibilities from person to person.
59. Family members consult other family members on their decisions.
60. It is hard to identify the leader(s) in our family.
61. Family togetherness is very important.
62. It is hard to tell who does which household chores.
63. Kids should value a close relationship with their family and should not have to be asked to spend time at home.
64. Family members should not bother other family members with their problems.
65. No matter what‚ family members should stick together.
66. Family members should stay out of other family member’s business.
67. Family members should be able to “speak their minds” with one another.
68. Parents should teach their children what they need to know to “make it” in the world.
69. Parents owe it to their kids to give them the best.
70. Aperson’s number one concern should be the needs of his/her family.
71. It is terrible for kids to talk back to their parents.
72. Children should always talk to their parents with respect.
73. When parents and kids disagree‚ parents should be willing to meet their kids halfway.
74. Kids should obey their parents even when they don’t agree.
75. It’s healthy for children to disobey their parents now and then.
76. Parents should expect kids my child’s age to do some work around the house.
77. Kids my child’s age should call home if they think they might be late.
78. Kids my child’s age should clean up for themselves withouthaving to be told.
79. Family members attend church‚ synagogue‚ or Sunday school fairly often.
80. We don’t say prayers in our family.
81. We often talk about the religious meaning of Christmas‚ Passover‚ or other holidays.
82. The Bible is a very important book in our home.
83. For a kid my child’s age‚ parents should have some say in choosing his/her friends.
84. Kids my child’s age should be free to spend their money on whatever they want.
85. It’s very unfair for parents to make a kid my child’s age come home earlier than his/her friends.
86. Parents should let kids my child’s age decide for themselves how and where to spend their free time.
87. For kids my child’s age‚ parents should decide whether it’s O.K. to go out on dates.
88. Kids my child’s age should not dress in a way their parents don’t like.
89. It’s O.K. to lie to someone if it will keep you out of trouble.
90. It’s O.K. to steal something from someone who is rich and can easily replace it.
91. Most successful people probably cheated to get where they are.
92. When you feel someone is out to get you‚ it’s better to get them first.
93. It’s O.K. to skip school every once in a while.
94. It’s O.K. to fight if the other guy says bad enough things about you or your family.
95. I get headaches or other aches and pains after a fight in the family.
96. I use illness as a way to get out of doing something.
97. I worry a lot about my family’s health.
98. When my child has minor health problems‚ I think I need a doctor.
99. My child stays home from school when I (or my spouse)am not feeling well.
100. I often complain about my nerves.
101. I sometimes get headaches or other aches and pains after I fight with my family.
102. I sometimes use feeling sick to get out of doing something.
103. I worry a lot about health problems.
104. Kids who stay out late with their friends are likely to get in serious trouble and make mistakes which could ruin their lives.
105. A kid who doesn’t learn to act right at home will grow up to be lazy and irresponsible.
- Beliefs About Family
- Beliefs About Development
- Cohesion
- and Nutrition
This instrument can be found on pages 253-259 of Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes‚ Beliefs and Behaviors among Youths: A Compendium of Assessment Tools‚ available online at: : A Compendium of Assessment
Point values are assigned as follows:
Strongly Disagree=1
Disagree=2
Agree=3
Strongly Agree=4
This measure produces eight subscales. The score for each subscale is calculated by summing responses to the individual items.
Beliefs About Family: Includes items 61‚ 63‚ 65‚ 67‚ 68‚ 72‚ 74‚ 76‚ 77‚ 78. A maximum score of 40 indicates more positive beliefs about the family. A minimum score of 10 indicates more negative beliefs.
Beliefs About Development: Includes items 74‚ 76‚ 77‚ 78. A maximum score of 16 indicates more appropriate beliefs about child behavior. A minimum score of 4 indicates more inappropriate beliefs.
Beliefs About Purpose: Includes items 61‚ 63‚ 65‚ 67‚ 68‚ 72. Aaximum score of 24 indicates more positive beliefs about family purpose. A minimum score of 6 indicates more negative beliefs.
Cohesion: Includes items 31‚ 38‚ 43‚ 51‚ 56. A maximum score of 20 indicates greater cohesion. A minimum score of 5 indicates more negative beliefs.
Deviant Beliefs: Includes items 89‚ 90‚ 93‚ 94. A maximum score of 16 indicates increased endorsement of deviant beliefs. A minimum score of 4 indicates less endorsement.
Support: Includes items 2‚ 10‚ 11‚ 15‚ 19‚ 23. Items are reverse scored. A maximum score of 24 indicates increased family support. A minimum score of 6 indicates less support.
Organization: Includes items 5‚ 54‚ 60‚ 62‚ 101‚ 102. Items are reverse scored. A maximum score of 24 indicates increased family organization. A minimum score of 6 indicates less organization.
Communication: Includes items 21‚ 3‚ 28. A maximum score of 12 indicates increased family communication. A minimum score of 3 indicates less communication.
Tolan PH‚ Gorman-Smith D. The Chicago Stress and Coping Interview. Champaign‚ IL: University ofIllinois‚ 1991.
Moos R‚ Moos B. Family Environment Scale preliminary manual. Palo Alto‚ CA: ConsultingPsychologists Press‚ 1974.
Olson DH‚ Portner J‚ Lavee Y. FACES III. St. Paul‚ MN: Family Social Science‚ University ofMinnesota‚ 1985.