Intergenerational family systems theory hypothesizes that the quality of family relationships effects one's psychological and health functioning. An explicit test of this multicausal model of health was made using structural equation analysis. Three-hundred and nineteen college students were administered a battery of questionnaires on two separate occasions. Results for the first administration indicated that the degree of individuationl intimacy in intergenerational and peer relationships was directly related to subjects' health-related behaviors accounting for 30% of the variance in this factor. Intergenerational intimidation/fusion was directly related to their level of health distress, and the complete structural equation model accounted for 35% of the variance in this factor. Finally, the degree of intimacy I individuation in peer relationships was found to be directly related to subjects' level of psychological distress, and the complete structural equation model accounted for 73% of the variance in this factor.

A series of studies are reported on the development of the young adult version of the Personal Authority in the Family System Questionnaire (PAFS-QVC). The instrument includes 7 scales measuring individuation-fusion, intimacy-isolation, and personal authority-intimidation. In Study 1 (N = 321 college students), exploratory factor analyses evaluated the conceptual scales and items. The theoretical scales were generally confirmed. Study 2(N= 712 college students) replicated the findings from Study 1 using confirmatory factor analysis. Concurrent validity was established through correlations with other measures of family relationships and psychological functioning. The PAFS-QVC discriminated between clinical and nonclinical samples and gender differences were noted on the PAFS-QVC. Implications for use of the instrument in psychotherapy and intergenerational family systems theory are discussed.

The intergenerational theory of personal development within the family system proposes thai the interactional processes of individuation and intimacy are primary influences on the life stress and the psychological and physical health of family members. In addition, the theory hypothesizes that these family patterns are transmitted to subsequent generations and that current intergenerational relationships directly and indirectly influence the quality of intimate relationships and psychological health of parents' offspring. The present study evaluated this theory using causal modeling and structural equation analysis in a sample of middle-aged adults and their college-aged offspring. Individuation and intimacy were significant predictors of health distress and psychological distress for both mothers and fathers. Parents' relational patterns of individuation and intimacy directly and indirectly influenced their offspring's patterns, which provides partial support for the intergenerational transmission hypothesis. Important differences between relational patterns of mothers and their children and fathers and their children were also found. Implications for intergenerational family systems theory and applications in clinical practice are discussed.Intergenerational theory of personal development within the family system views psychological well-being within the context of a multigenerational model. The theory goes beyond a view of "the individual in isolation" to include legacies from preceding generations as well as significant interactions with one's nuclear family and family of origin (Boszormenyi-Nagy &

This article investigated the theory and measurement of inter generational family processes with the Personal Authority in the Family System Questionnaire and their relationship to life stress and health distress. Family process variables accounted for 53% of the variance in health distress in an adult clinical sample. For a collegeaged nonclinical sample, family process variables accounted for a significant amount of variance in health distress over and above life stress.

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