Validation of the Emotional Tone Index for Families (ETIF): A Multi‐Informant Measure of Emotional Closeness

Despite the importance of emotional closeness (EC) in families, few researchers have accurately measured the construct in a systemic way. Additionally, existing measures rely on ratings from one informant, typically the mother, to provide information on closeness within the entire family system. We examined EC in 140 individuals (37 families) using the Emotional Tone Index for Families (ETIF), a novel, multi‐informant measure that obtains bidirectional information about EC within every family relationship. The parent identified as most familiar with the family also completed two widely used single‐informant measures: The McMaster Family Assessment Device and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, version IV. The ETIF exhibited good test–retest reliability, high internal consistency, and concurrent validity with the single‐informant measures. Though the primary respondent scores correlated highly with overall family closeness, results revealed only a modest association between closeness ratings within each dyad and parents rated higher levels of closeness toward their children than children rated closeness toward parents. These findings suggest that ratings from multiple informants provide valuable information about discrepancies in perceived closeness between family members and other complex family dynamics that cannot be captured by single‐informant measures. Limitations, future directions, and implications for practice are discussed. Resumen A pesar de la importancia de la cercanía emocional en las familias, pocos investigadores han medido con precisión el constructo de una manera sistémica. Además, las herramientas de medición existentes dependen de las valoraciones de un informante, normalmente la madre, para proporcionar información sobre la cercanía dentro de todo el sistema familiar. Analizamos la cercanía emocional en 140 personas (37 familias) usando el Índice de Tono Emocional para las Familias (ITEF), una herramienta de medición novedosa que obtiene información bidireccional sobre la cercanía emocional dentro de cada relación familiar por parte de varios informantes. El progenitor identificado como el más familiarizado con la familia también completó dos evaluaciones de un solo informante ampliamente utilizadas: el Dispositivo de McMaster de Evaluación Familiar (McMaster Family Assessment Device) y las Escalas de Evaluación de la Cohesión y la Adaptabilidad Familiar (Family Adapatability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales), versión