Co-Dependency Inventory (CODI)

Abstract

The Co-Dependency Inventory (CODI) is a 29-item self-report measure developed by Stonebrink in 1988. It is designed to assess the presence and severity of traits associated with co-dependency (Link 1/5) in individuals. The inventory captures behavioral patterns and emotional states related to excessive focus on others, lack of self-identity, and relationship dysfunction. It is structured around four primary dimensions: Need to Control, Interpersonal dependency (Link 1/5), Self-alienation (Link 1/5), and Enmeshment (Link 1/5). The CODI utilizes a four-point Likert scale response format, making it suitable for clinical screening and research contexts focused on relational psychology.

Keywords

Co-Dependency, Interpersonal dependency, Self-alienation, Enmeshment, Relationship dysfunction, Psychological assessment, Stonebrink, Clinical scale.

Authors

Stonebrink, S.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the CODI is to provide a quantifiable measure of co-dependent characteristics within an individual. It serves as a diagnostic aid and a research tool to investigate the prevalence and manifestation of specific relational patterns often observed in clinical populations, particularly those involved with or recovering from substance abuse or family dysfunction.

The scale helps researchers and clinicians gauge the extent to which an individual exhibits behaviors such as controlling others, prioritizing others’ needs over one’s own, experiencing identity confusion, and engaging in maladaptive emotional bonding. This measurement is crucial for tailoring therapeutic interventions aimed at fostering healthy boundaries and promoting autonomous self-development.

Construct

The CODI is designed to measure the complex psychological construct (Link 1/5) of co-dependency, which is generally understood as an unhealthy, mutually dependent relationship pattern where one person supports or enables another person’s addiction, poor mental health, immaturity, or irresponsibility. The inventory breaks down this broad construct into four distinct, yet interrelated, subscales:

• Need to Control: Reflects the tendency to attempt to manage or dictate the actions and environments of significant others (e.g., Item 1, 5, 21).
• Interpersonal Dependency: Measures excessive reliance on others for self-worth, emotional support, and decision-making (e.g., Item 2, 6, 29).
• Self-Alienation: Assesses the degree to which an individual feels disconnected from their own feelings, needs, and identity (e.g., Item 3, 7, 15).
• Enmeshment: Pertains to blurred boundaries between the self and others, leading to an overly involved and often sacrificing relational style (e.g., Item 4, 13, 24).

Validity

Specific, detailed information regarding the construct validity, criterion validity, or predictive validity of the CODI is not readily available in the provided source material, which cites the original work as an unpublished Master’s thesis (Stonebrink, 1988). Generally, scales derived from Master’s theses require further rigorous validation studies in diverse populations before widespread clinical adoption.

The face validity, however, appears strong, as the items directly address core behavioral and emotional characteristics commonly associated with theoretical models of co-dependency. Subsequent research utilizing the CODI has likely contributed to its established use in various clinical settings, suggesting some degree of empirical support for its intended measurement.

Reliability

The original reliability statistics, such as Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency across the total scale and its subscales, are not specified within the source reference. Given that the instrument was developed for a research thesis, it is highly probable that internal consistency measures were calculated and reported in the original 1988 document.

Users and researchers should consult the original thesis or subsequent validation studies citing the CODI to ascertain standard reliability coefficients (e.g., test-retest reliability) necessary to confirm the stability and consistency of the measure over time and across different administrations.

Factor Analysis

The structure of the CODI suggests that a factor analysis was performed during its development to identify the four primary dimensions: Need to Control, Interpersonal dependency, Self-alienation, and Enmeshment. This multidimensional structure implies that co-dependency is not viewed as a unitary construct but rather as a composite of several distinct, yet correlated, problematic relational and self-perception patterns.

The grouping of the 29 items into these four factors provides a more nuanced profile than a single total score, allowing clinicians to pinpoint specific areas of difficulty for intervention. However, the specific statistical details of the factor loadings and variance explained by each factor are not detailed in the available abstract.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report inventory/Psychometric scale

Format: 29 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale.

Language Available: English (Original). Other translations are not specified.

Population Group: Clinical and general populations studying relational issues.

Age Group: Adults (Implied, based on the nature of complex interpersonal relationships assessed).

Population Details: Originally developed within a sample relevant to the University of Hawaii, School of Social Work, likely focusing on individuals dealing with behavioral or relational problems.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate each item using the following scale: 0 = never, 1= Sometimes, 2= Often, 3= Always. Certain items (9, 13, 17, 25) require reverse scoring to maintain consistent directionality across the subscales.

Keywords

Codependency measurement, Control issues, Emotional boundary setting, Relationship assessment, Psychological inventory, Stonebrink scale.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in the source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not specified in the source material.

Correspondence Address: Correspondence would generally be routed through the University of Hawaii, School of Social Work, where the original thesis was completed.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was first published as part of an academic work in 1988. Specific permission requirements and associated fees for the use of the CODI are not detailed in the sourcebook citation. As the instrument is reproduced in a clinical measures sourcebook, it is often used for non-commercial research and clinical practice with appropriate referencing. Users should consult the sourcebook editors or the author’s affiliated institution for clarity on commercial use rights.

Reference’s

• Stonebrink, S. (1988). A measure of co-dependency and the impact of socio-cultural characteristics. Unpublished Master’s Thesis, University of Hawaii, School of Social Work.
• Stonebrink, S. (1988). Co-Dependency Inventory (CODI). IN Fischer, Joel.‚ Corcoran, Kevin J. (2007). Measures for Clinical Practice and research: A sourcebook. (4th ed.). NY. Oxford University Pr. Vol. 1, Page(s): 221-223.

Items of the Co-Dependency Inventory (CODI)

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

1. I try to take ch‎arge of things when I am with people I care about.
2. Disapproval by someone I care about is very painful for me.
3. I often do things without knowing why.
4. I put the needs of people I care about before my own needs.
5. I try to have other people do things the way I want them done.
6. I would be completely lost if / didn’t have someone special.
7. I often feel like a stranger to myself.
8. I am loyal to others I care about even thought they don’t deserve my loyalty.
9. I let other people I care about decide what to do.*
10. I tend to expect too much from others who are important to me.
11. I often hide my true feelings from people I care about.
12. I blame myself for things that go wrong in my relationships.
13. I let other people who are important to me influence my actions.*
14. I feel that I never get all that I need from people I care about.
15. Sometimes it’s hard for me to make up my mind because I don’t know how I really feel about anything.
16. Sometimes I let down my standards and accept less from people who are important to me.
17. I let other people take ch‎arge of things.*
18. I think most people don’t realize how easily they can hurt me.
19. I avoid talking about my problems.
20. I don’t spend as much time with my friends as I would like to.
21. I try to influence the people who are important to me.
22. I tend to imagine the worst if someone I love doesn’t arrive when expected.
23. Sometimes I don’t know what / want so I do what other people want me to do.
24. I am influenced by the feelings of people I care about.
25. I am easily led by people who are important to me.*
26. I have always had a terrible fear that I will lose the love and support of people I care about.
27. I often pretend things are fine when really they are not.
28. I often take on the responsibilities of people who are important for me.
29. I would feel helpless if I was deserted by someone I love.

* reverse score