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Perceived family functioning among adolescent psychiatric inpatients: Validity of the family-of-origin scale

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Abstract

The Family-of-Origin Scale (FOS) is a 40 item, ten subscale self-report instrument designed to assess perceptions of family health. The scale, based on the dimensions of Autonomy and Intimacy, has demonstrated reliability and validity with adolescents. The FOS was administered to 100 adolescent psychiatric inpatients concurrently with the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) to examine the scale's discriminant and construct validity. When compared with 100 non-clinical adolescents, the psychiatric inpatients perceived their family as less healthy on all FOS dimensions. Perceived family health on the FOS was negatively and moderately correlated with the BSI dimensions. The findings provide psychometric and clinical support for the FOS with adolescents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Saint Louis, Missouri

    Carol L. Niedermeier

  2. Deaconess Family Medicine and Saint Louis University, USA

    H. Russell Searight

  3. Saint Louis University, USA

    Paul J. Handal

  4. University of Missouri, USA

    Christopher M. Manley

  5. Saint Louis University, USA

    Nancy Y. Brown

Authors
  1. Carol L. Niedermeier
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  2. H. Russell Searight
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  3. Paul J. Handal
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  4. Christopher M. Manley
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  5. Nancy Y. Brown
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Niedermeier, C.L., Russell Searight, H., Handal, P.J. et al. Perceived family functioning among adolescent psychiatric inpatients: Validity of the family-of-origin scale. Child Psych Hum Dev 25, 253–265 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02250993

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02250993

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