Family Environment Scale

The scale is developed by Dr. Sanjay Vohra in 1997.

The term family refers to a variety of grouping:

(1) A father and mother their children;(2) A group of people living in the same house;(3) Relatives of person; and (4) Grand mother and Grand father.

Family Environment includes:

Dynamic set of relationship among all the people who live together; Children’s behavior ideas, thought and fantasies affect the lives of

those with whom they live; and Group has resources that are used to adjust is life.

Family is also a part of culture:

Relationship with each other; marriage relationship in adults; Parent’s child relationship; and Social status in the community.

Type of Family

1. Nuclear Family and 2. Joint Family

[Studies showed that types of family also effect the family environment and development of children.]

Unhealthy Family Environment:

Rejection attitude by towards children by parents (fearful, insecure, jealous, attention seeking, aggressive).

Our protection. Parents having perfectionist demands from their children. Family discipline (anxiety, insecure, by felling aggressive, frustration). Marital conflict among parents (tension, anxiety, and lack of secure home base,

and insecurity).

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Unhealthy family environment is found to be back ground of disturbed children. To over come this problem this family environment scale is corrective measures in time. FE scale is corrective measures in time.

FES was developed as a means to get information about the family environment is a rapid, objective and standized manner.

For this scale Age Level is from 10 years to adulthood and this can be used for literate adults. This scale can be administrated individually and group at one time. The scale is no time bound 20 – 25 minutes. Total 98 statement based items are included in the item sheet.

It is based on dimensional theory, several dimension give complete and comprehensive picture of ones family environment. Each dimension is independents and plays a dominant role in the family. The Seven (07) dimensions were covered.

1. Competitive Frame Work (Cf): This dimension measures the extent to which activities (such as school and work) are cast in to achievement oriented or competitive frame work.

2. Cohesion (Co): This dimension measures the degree of commitment, help and support family members provide for one another.

3. Expressiveness (Ex): Measures the extent to which family members are encouraged to act openly and to express their feelings directly.

4. Independence (In): This dimension measures the extent to which family members are assertive, self-sufficient and make their own decisions.

5. Moral Orientation (Mo): Measures the degree of emphasis given to ethical, moral and religious issues and values.

6. Organization (or): Measures the degree of importance of clear organization and structure in planning family activities and responsibilities and extent to which set rules and procedures are used to run family life.

7. Recreational Orientation (Ro): This dimension measures the extent of participation and interest in social, recreational, political, intellectual and cultural activities.

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Scoring

Sten Scores

4-7 – Average Score

1-3 – Low Score

8-10 – High/Extremely High Score

Validity Index (Vi) Score

Sten Score

10 – No Distortion (Responses are quiet consistent)

5- 9 – Low Distortion (Scores are fairely accurated)

1- 4 – High Distortion (Not reliable score. Take test again after some time)

Reliability: (i) Test- Retest Reliability

(ii) Split- Half Reliability

(iii) Internal consistency Reliability

Validity: Coefficient Validity (Factorial Validity)

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INTERPRETATIONDimensions High Low

Cf

Co

Ex

In

Mo

Or

Ro

Family members are high on competitiveness and achievement orientation.

Family members support each other and have a strong feeling of togetherness.

Free expression of see lings of disagreement or disapproval. Indulge in spontaneous discursive.

Independence encouraged freedom to solve their own problems.

High importance to religion immoral and ethical values.

High emphasis on rules. Activities are carefully planned.

Varied interests and achieve involvement in recreation.

Family members low on these aspects.

Family members openly express, anger, show aggression in their behavior. There is confect and they critics each other.

Difficulty in expressing their see lings.

Not encouraged to speak for them selves. Lither or no privacy.

Little or no imp to these aspects.

Rules are flexible. Activities not really planned.

Limited interest.

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