Dimensions of Family Functioning

The development of a self-report scale measuring dimensions of general family functioning is described. An initial 197-item pool was generated from the theoretical family literature & previous research. A series of principal components analyses with varimax rotation were performed on the responses of 283 Ss, & a 32-item version of a preliminary inventory measuring 5 salient aspects of family functioning was developed. Cronbach alpha reliability estimates & scale intercorrelations were calculated; all data analyses were crossvalidated on a second, equivalent sample of 282 Ss. Additional studies have corroborated these dimensions & demonstrated that they can be used to discriminate between certain clinical (eg, schizophrenic & alcoholic) & nonclinical groups. 2 Tables, 47 References. Modified HA