McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD-60)
Based on family systems approach (“McMaster Model of Family Functioning”), defining family as composed of systems within external systems; developed for use in therapeutic setting for family assessment, with specific focus on families with on member with health condition (can be used in research as well). Includes 7 subscales: problem solving, communication, roles, affective responsiveness, affective involvement, behavior control, general functioning. All family members complete instrument–can be analyzed as composite family score or individual members’ scores. The general functioning scale can be used alone as measure of family functioning (FAD-12); a brief, 3-item version of this subscale is available (“BAFSS”).
Revised FAD-60: Ryan, C. E., Epstein, N. B., Keitner, G. I., Miller, I. W., & Bishop, D. S. (2005). Evaluating and treating families: The McMaster approach. New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Original version: Epstein, N. B., Baldwin, L. M., Bishop, D.S. (1983). The McMaster Family Assessment Device. J. Marital Fam. Ther., 9, 171–180.
FAD-12: Boterhoven de Haan, K.L., Hafekost, J., Lawrence, D., Sawyer, M.G., Zubrick, S.R. (2015). Reliability and validity of a short version of the general functioning subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device. Fam Process, 54(1):116-23.
Brief FAD-12 (3 items): Mansfield, A. K., Keitner, G. I., & Sheeran, T. (2019). The Brief Assessment of Family Functioning Scale (BAFFS): a three-item version of the General Functioning Scale of the Family Assessment Device. Psychotherapy Research, 29(6), 824–831.
Validation FAD-60 and FAD-12: Mansfield, A. K., Keitner, G. I., & Dealy, J. (2015). The family assessment device: An update. Family Process, 54(1), 82–93.
Translations:
Affan Oromo FAD-35: Amente, T. & Tefera, B. (2021). Exploring the Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Affan Oromo Version Family Assessment Device (FAD) in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Journal of Education, 41(2), 37-83.
Chinese FAD-60: Shek, D. T. L. (2002). Assessment of family functioning in Chinese adolescents: The Chinese version of the family assessment device. Research in Social Work Practice, 12, 502–524.
French FAD-60: Speranza, M., Guénolé, F., Revah-Levy, A., Egler, P.J., Negadi, F., Falissard, B. (2012). The French version of the Family Assessment Device. Can. J. Psychiatry, 57, 570–577.
Greek FAD-60: Tsamparli, A., Petmeza, I., McCarthy, G., & Adamis, D. (2018). The Greek version of the McMaster Family Assessment Device. PsyCh Journal, 7(3), 122–132.
Icelandic FAD-60: Juliusdottir, G.M. & Olafsdottir, H. (2015). An Icelandic Version of McMasters Family Assessment Device (FAD). Research on Social Work Practice, 25(7), 815–827.
Italian FAD-60: Roncone, R., Rossi, L., Muiere, E., Impallomeni, M., Matteucci, M., Giacomelli, R., Tonietti, G., Casacchia, M. (1998). The Italian version of the Family Assessment Device. Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol, 33, 451–461.
Malay FAD-12: Babar, M.G.; Bilal, S.; Yusof, Z.Y.M.; Chinna, K.; Doss, J.G.; Pau, A. Cross-cultural adaptation of the General Functioning Scale of the family into the Malay language. International e-Journal of Science, Medicine & Education, 15, 46–56.
Persian FAD-60: Sanaei Zaker, B., Alagheband, S., Falahati, Sh., & Hooman, A. 2000. Family and Marriage Measurement Scales. Fourth Edition, Tehran: Be'sat (Article in Farsi)
Portuguese FAD-12: Pires, T., de Assis, S. G., Avanci, J. Q., & Pesce, R. P. (2016). Cross-Cultural adaptation of the General Functioning Scale of the Family. Revista de Saúde Pública, 50.
Spanish FAD-60: Barroilhet, S., Canoprous, A., Cervera-Enguix, S., Forjaz, M.J., Guillén-Grima, F. (2009). A Spanish version of the Family Assessment Device. Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol, 44, 1051–1065.
Additional information
| Construct | Family functioning |
|---|---|
| Condition | No specific condition |
| Age | Any |
| Country Where Developed | Canada, United States |
| Number of Items | 60 |
| Subscales | Affective involvement, Affective responsiveness, Behavior control, Communication, General functioning, Problem solving, Roles |
| Short Form? | Yes |
| Short Form Items | 12 |
| Respondent | All family members > 12 years of age |
| Language(s) | Afaan Oromo, Chinese, English, French, Greek, Icelandic, Italian, Malay, Persian, Portuguese, Spanish |
| Cost/Fee | No cost |
| How to Access | By permission of author: amansfieldmarcaccio@Lifespan.org |