engleski

Razvoj i validacija nove mjere obiteljskog funkcioniranja

This paper describes the development and validation of a new self-report measure of family functioning. A new measure was developed according to the Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems (Olson & Gorall, 2003). The model, its basic concepts and dimensions are grounded in the systems theory. According to the model, the most central and descriptive dimensions of marital and family dynamics are cohesion, flexibility, and communication. The goals in developing a new measure of family functioning were to develop a short, reliable, and valid self-report scale that taps the three dimensions, and to develop a scale that is useful for researchers and practitioners working with families. In Study 1, a 60-item version of the scale was formed from a pool of 90 items describing the functioning of the family as a system. The items were formulated based on the family functioning literature and selected with the help of a panel of experts and comments obtained from children. This 60-item version of the scale was completed by 80 children and both of their parents in Study 1. A 46-item version of the scale (16 items for cohesion subscale, 15 items for flexibility subscale and 15 items for communication subscale) was formed based on the results of psychometric analyses. In Study 2, a 46-item version of the scale was completed by four hundred children and both of their parents. Based on the results of psychometric analyses, a 46-item version of the scale was shortened to a 21-item version of the scale. Findings from Study 2 provide support for acceptable reliability and validity of the final 21-items version of the scale (7 items per subscale). In conclusion, the results provide support for the notion that the Family Functioning Scale (21-item version) is an easy-to-use measure with good psychometric characteristics, which could be suitable for research and initial clinical screening of the family functioning.

obiteljsko funkcioniranje, skala, kohezija, fleksibilnost, komunikacija

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