Friel Co-Dependency Assessment Inventory

Abstract

The Friel Co-Dependency Assessment Inventory (FCAI), developed by J. Friel in 1985 and further detailed with L. Friel in 1987, is a widely used psychological assessment tool designed to measure characteristics associated with co-dependency. This self-report instrument consists of 60 items presented in a True/False format. It focuses on identifying patterns of emotional, behavioral, and relational dysfunction, particularly concerning issues of self-care, boundary setting, emotional expression, and excessive focus on others.

The FCAI provides a quantitative score used to determine the severity of co-dependent traits, ranging from little need for concern to severe need for intervention. It is primarily utilized in clinical and self-help settings to facilitate initial self-awareness and gauge the degree to which an individual exhibits behaviors linked to dysfunctional family dynamics.

Keywords

Co-dependency, Relationship dysfunction, Psychological inventory, Self-report scale, Co-dependent traits, Family systems, Mental health assessment, Friel.

Authors

J. Friel, L. Friel.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the FCAI is to offer a preliminary, easily administered tool for screening individuals for behaviors and attitudes indicative of co-dependency. It is often utilized in clinical and self-help settings to facilitate initial self-awareness and gauge the severity of issues related to control, self-worth derived from others, difficulty expressing feelings, and avoidance of personal needs.

The instrument’s design allows practitioners to quickly identify areas of concern across several domains of personal and relational functioning, thereby guiding therapeutic intervention. The scoring system directly translates to levels of concern, suggesting appropriate steps from minimal awareness to professional intervention.

Construct

The FCAI measures the multifaceted construct of co-dependency, which is generally defined as an excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, child, or other significant person, often stemming from growing up in a dysfunctional family system. The scale items probe core dimensions of co-dependency:

• Self-Esteem and Self-Care: Items related to self-criticism, taking time for oneself, and personal satisfaction (e.g., items 2, 5, 21).
• Boundary Issues and Control: Difficulty saying no, taking on too much responsibility, or feeling responsible for others’ happiness (e.g., items 28, 50, 56).
• Emotional Expression and Communication: Difficulty identifying or openly expressing feelings, especially anger or dissatisfaction (e.g., items 8, 24, 47).
• Relationship Patterns: Satisfaction, comfort with intimacy, and difficulty leaving complicated or confusing relationships (e.g., items 9, 19, 36).
• Family Background: Impact of childhood family communication and coping mechanisms (e.g., items 7, 11, 59).

Validity

Specific, comprehensive validity studies (e.g., concurrent, predictive, or construct validity derived from structural equation modeling) are typically detailed in primary publications (Friel, 1985; Friel & Friel, 1987). However, the FCAI’s content validity is strong, as its 60 items clearly align with established clinical definitions and theoretical models of co-dependency prevalent in the 1980s, such as the “iceberg model” proposed by the Friels.

The inventory’s utility relies heavily on its face validity, ensuring that the questions are readily understood by the target population and appear relevant to the assessment of relational and self-management difficulties. Users and clinicians utilize the FCAI to confirm symptomatic presentation consistent with generalized co-dependent behaviors, suggesting its clinical relevance in identifying these patterns.

Reliability

Detailed psychometric reports, including internal consistency measures (like Cronbach’s alpha) and test-retest reliability, are necessary to fully assess the FCAI’s reliability. While these specific coefficients are not provided in the publicly available summary, a well-constructed 60-item True/False scale designed for clinical screening typically aims for acceptable internal consistency (alpha coefficients generally above .70) to ensure that the items consistently measure the underlying construct of co-dependency across the dimensions examined.

Given its widespread use in clinical and recovery communities since the mid-1980s, the instrument is presumed to possess sufficient practical reliability to serve its function as a quick screening tool, though users should consult the original research papers for rigorous reliability documentation.

Factor Analysis

The original research likely utilized exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis during the scale development phases (1985–1987) to refine the item set and confirm the dimensionality of the co-dependency construct being measured. Based on the breadth of the items—covering self-care, emotional boundaries, communication, and relationship dynamics—it is highly probable that the FCAI resolves into multiple factors rather than a single global score.

These hypothesized factors would correspond to the theoretical subscales of co-dependency, such as emotional repression, external focus/caregiving, low self-esteem, and difficulty with authority. Understanding the factor structure is essential for interpreting subscale scores and targeting specific intervention areas in counseling.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Inventory / Screening Tool

Format: 60 items, True / False response format.

Language Available: Primarily English (Original language).

Population Group: Adults seeking assistance for relational issues or recovery from addiction-related family systems.

Age Group: Adult (18+).

Population Details: Originally developed for use with individuals involved in recovery programs, particularly those identified as adult children of alcoholics or those exhibiting symptoms related to dysfunctional family backgrounds.

Test Methodology: Simple summative scoring. Each item is scored True or False, with certain responses keyed for co-dependency traits. The total score indicates the level of concern and potential need for therapeutic intervention:

• Below 20: Little Need for Concern.
• 21 – 30: Moderate Need for Concern.
• 31 – 45: Moderate to Severe Need for Concern.
• 46 or over: Severe Need for Concern & Intervention.

Keywords

Codependency assessment, Friel Inventory, Relationship boundaries, Emotional regulation, Dysfunctional families, Self-report measure, Clinical screening.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Information not available in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Information not available in source material.

Correspondence Address: Information not available in source material. Developed under the context of clinical practice and research detailed in the journals Focus on the Family and Chemical Dependency.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Friel Co-Dependency Assessment Inventory was first published in 1985, with expanded material published in 1987 and 1988. The instrument is often distributed by mental health organizations for educational and screening purposes, such as Mental Health America of Northern Kentucky & Southern Ohio.

The original PDF of this instrument, provided by Mental Health America of Northern Kentucky & Southern Ohio, can be downloaded here: http://www.mhankyswoh.org/Uploads/files/pdfs/CoDependency-CoDependencyTest_20130813.pdf

Users interested in formal research or commercial application should consult the original authors or relevant publishing bodies regarding current usage rights and licensing fees.

Reference’s

The primary references for the development and theoretical underpinning of the Friel Co-Dependency Assessment Inventory include:

• Friel, J. (1985). Co-Dependency Assessment Inventory: A preliminary research tool. Focus on the Family and Chemical Dependency, pp. 20-21.
• Friel, J., & Friel, L. (1987). Uncovering our frozen feelings: The iceberg model of codependency. Focus on the Family and Chemical Dependency, 46, 10-12.
• Friel, J., & Friel, L. (1988). Adult children The secrets of dysfunctional families. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications.

Items of the Friel Co-Dependency Assessment Inventory

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. I make enough time to do things for myself every week.
2. I spend lots of time criticizing myself after an interaction with someone.
3. I would not be embarrassed if people knew certain things about me.
4. Sometimes I feel like I just waste a lot of time and don’t get anywhere.
5. I take good enough care of myself.
6. It is usually best not to tell someone they bother you; it only causes fights and gets everyone upset.
7. I am happy about the way my family communicated when I was growing up.
8. Sometimes I don’t know how I really feel.
9. I am very satisfied with my intimate love life.
10. I’ve been feeling tired lately.
11. When I was growing up, my family liked to talk openly about problems.
12. I often look happy when I am sad or angry.
13. I am satisfied with the number and kind of relationships I have in my life.
14. Even if I had the time and money to do it, I would feel uncomfortable taking a vacation by myself.
15. I have enough help with everything that I must do every day.
16. I wish that I could accomplish a lot more than I do now.
17. My family taught me to express feelings and affection openly when I was growing up.
18. It is hard for me to talk to someone in authority (boss, teachers, etc.).
19. When I am in a relationship that becomes too confusing and complicated, I have no trouble getting out of it.
20. I sometimes feel pretty confused about who I am and where I want to go with my life.
21. I am satisfied with the way I take care of my own needs.
22. I am not satisfied with my career.
23. I usually handle my problems calmly and directly.
24. I hold back my feelings much of the time because I don’t want to hurt other people or have them think less of me.
25. I don’t feel like I’m “in a rut” very often.
26. I am not satisfied with my friendships.
27. When someone hurts my feelings or does something I don’t like, I have little difficulty telling them about it.
28. When a close friend or relative asks for my help more than I’d like, I usually say “yes” anyway.
29. I love to face new problems and am good at finding solutions for them.
30. I do not feel good about my childhood.
31. I am not concerned about my health a lot.
32. I often feel like no one really knows me.
33. I feel calm and peaceful most of the time.
34. I find it difficult to ask for what I want.
35. I don’t let people take advantage of me.
36. I am dissatisfied with at least one of my close relationships.
37. I make major decisions quite easily.
38. I don’t trust myself in new situations as much as I’d like.
39. I am very good at knowing when to speak up and when to go along with others’ wishes.
40. I wish I had more time away from my work.
41. I am as spontaneous as I’d like to be.
42. Being alone is a problem for me.
43. When someone I love is bothering me, I have no problem telling them so.
44. I often have so many things going on at once that I’m really not doing justice to any one of them.
45. I am very comfortable letting others into my life and letting them see the “real me”.
46. I apologize to others too much for what I say or do.
47. I have no problem telling people when I am angry with them.
48. There’s so much to do and not enough time.
49. I have few regrets about what I have done with my life.
50. I tend to think of others more than I do of myself.
51. More often than not, my life has gone the way I wanted it to.
52. People admire me because I’m so understanding of others, even when they do something that annoys me.
53. I am comfortable with my own sexuality.
54. I sometimes feel embarrassed by the behavior of those close to me.
55. The important people in my life know the “real me” and I am okay with them knowing.
56. I do my share of work and often do a bit more.
57. I do not feel that everything would fall apart without my efforts and attention.
58. I do too much for other people and then later wonder why I did so.
59. I am happy about the way my family coped with problems when I was growing up.
60. I wish that I had more people to do things with.