Psychometric properties and validation of the Italian version of the Family Assessment Measure Third Edition – Short Version – in a nonclinical sample

Abstract

BackgroundFamily functioning plays an important role in developing and maintaining dysfunctional behaviors, especially during adolescence. The lack of indicators of family functioning, as determinants of personal and interpersonal problems, represents an obstacle to the activities aimed at developing preventive and intervention strategies. The Process Model of Family Functioning provides a conceptual framework organizing and integrating various concepts into a comprehensive family assessment; this model underlines that through the process of task accomplishment, each family meets objectives central to its life as a group. The Family Assessment Measure Third Edition (FAM III), based on the Process Model of Family Functioning, is among the most frequently used self-report instruments to measure family functioning.Materials and methodsThe present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Family Assessment Measure Third Edition – Short Version (Brief FAM-III). It consists of three modules: General Scale, which evaluates the family as a system; Dyadic Relationships Scale, which examines how each family member perceives his/her relationship with another member; and Self-Rating Scale, which indicates how each family member is perceived within the nucleus. The developed Brief FAM-III together with the Family Assessment Device were administered to 484 subjects, members of 162 Italian families, formed of 162 fathers aged between 35 and 73 years; 162 mothers aged between 34 and 69 years; and 160 children aged between 12 and 35 years. Correlation, paired-sample t-test, and reliability analyses were carried out.ResultsGeneral item analysis shows good indices of reliability with Cronbach’s α coefficients equal to 0.96. The Brief FAM-III has satisfactory internal consistency, with Cronbach’s α equal to 0.90 for General Scale, 0.94 for Dyadic Relationships Scale, and 0.88 for the Self-Rating Scale.ConclusionThe Brief FAM-III can be a psychometrically reliable and valid measure for the assessment of family strengths and weaknesses within Italian contexts. The instrument can be used to obtain an overall idea of family functioning, for the purposes of preliminary screening, and for monitoring family functioning over time or during treatment.

Gender stereotypes in occupational choice: a cross-sectional study on a group of Italian adolescents

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Translation and validation of the Danish version of the brief family assessment measure III in a sample of acutely admitted elderly medical patients

“…However, goodness‐of‐fit indicators showed a relatively poor model fit. Furthermore, intercorrelations among the three scales of the Brief FAM in the Danish sample were higher than those in the normative sample and the Italian sample , which is appropriate because all three scales measure overall family functioning, whereas each scale examines family functioning from different perspectives. Given the good intercorrelations among the three scales of the Brief FAM‐III as well as the positive and satisfactory coefficients of all items in each scale, the poor model fit may be due to the small and heterogeneous sample rather than validity problems.…”

“…T‐scores higher than 50 indicate more than average family difficulties, while T‐scores lower than 50 indicate less than average family difficulties . The internal consistency of the Brief FAM‐III was established and reported using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, which ranged from 0.74 to 0.94 .…”

“…Because the Brief FAM‐III is less time‐consuming, it can be used for the preliminary screening and repeated measures of family functioning over time or during an intervention . The Brief FAM has well‐established psychometric properties and has been utilised in a number of studies .…”

Family Functioning, Perception Of Risky Behavior And Internet Addiction In Italian Adolescents

“…Adolescence is a critical phase not only for the adolescent, who in this phase is perceived as an active agent and able to make choices about his own life, but for the whole family system of which he is a part (Pellerone, Ramaci, Parrello, Guariglia, & Giaimo, 2017). The delicate task of integrating the legitimate need for children's independence and autonomy, with the cohesion of affection and with the negotiation of new rules of relationship, belongs to the family.…”