Family Activity Scale (FAS)

Abstract

The Family Activity Scale (FAS) is a 20-item self-report questionnaire designed to quantify the frequency and extent to which family units engage in shared activities. Developed by Smith in 1985, the FAS specifically measures joint activities such as shared meals, outings, and leisure time, which are considered crucial indicators of family cohesion and functioning. It utilizes a 5-point Likert scale format, ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (very often), yielding a single total score where higher values indicate a greater frequency of communal family engagement. The scale demonstrates robust psychometric properties, including high internal consistency and strong predictive validity regarding positive child outcomes.

Keywords

Family Activity Scale, FAS, family functioning, joint activities, family cohesion, child development, psychological assessment.

Authors

M. Smith.

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Purpose

The primary purpose of the FAS is to provide a standardized, quantifiable measure of family activity levels. This measurement is crucial for researchers and clinicians interested in the impact of shared family time on developmental outcomes, particularly in children. It serves as a practical tool for assessing the behavioral aspects of family life that contribute to a supportive home environment.

By assessing the regularity of joint engagements (e.g., recreational activities, shared routines, cultural outings), the scale allows for the comparison of activity rates across different populations or intervention groups. Its utilization is often centered around studies linking high levels of family interaction to positive psychological and academic success, as well as reduced levels of problematic behaviors.

Construct

The FAS measures the core construct of family engagement or shared activity frequency. This construct is viewed as a key component of overall family functioning, reflecting the behavioral manifestation of family cohesion and adaptability. Frequent joint activities are hypothesized to foster effective communication, increase parental involvement, and strengthen emotional bonds within the family system.

The 20 scale items operationalize this construct by querying specific, observable behaviors related to recreation, social interaction, and routine daily life (e.g., reading stories, visiting parks, shared meals) over defined time frames. The summation of these items provides a comprehensive index of the family’s commitment to communal activity.

Validity

The FAS demonstrates strong evidence of validity, suggesting that it accurately measures the intended construct of family activity frequency and its relationship to positive outcomes. Concurrent validity has been established through positive correlations with existing, well-regarded measures of family dynamics, such as the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES; Olson, Portner, & Bell, 1982).

Furthermore, the FAS exhibits predictive validity, as higher scores have been reliably associated with favorable outcomes in children and adolescents. Specifically, research utilizing the scale has shown that greater frequency of family activities is predictive of improved academic performance and significantly reduced levels of aggression and behavioral problems, confirming its utility in developmental psychology research.

Reliability

The reliability of the FAS has been rigorously tested, indicating high consistency in its measurement properties. The scale exhibits excellent internal consistency, evidenced by a high Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .87. This value is well above the acceptable threshold for psychological scales, suggesting that the 20 items are measuring a unified, underlying construct of family activity.

Additionally, the FAS possesses good test-retest reliability. A stability correlation coefficient of .75 was observed over a 2-week interval. This finding confirms that the scale provides stable measurements of family activity frequency over time, demonstrating that the results are not unduly influenced by transient or situational factors.

Factor Analysis

The original structure of the FAS utilizes a single summed total score derived from its 20 items. This approach suggests that the scale is designed to measure a largely unidimensional construct—the overall frequency and intensity of shared family activities. While the source material does not detail a formal exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis, the high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .87) supports the use of a single, composite score for interpretation.

Instrument

Test Type: Psychological scale; Self-report questionnaire.

Format: 20 items utilizing a 5-point Likert scale (1=Never to 5=Very Often). Total scores are summed.

Language Available: English (Original).

Population Group: Parents/Caregivers reporting on family activities involving children.

Age Group: Measures activities relevant to children aged 2 to 12, often categorized into two sub-groups (2–6 and 7–12).

Population Details: Developed within the context of doctoral research concerning the effects of social factors on urban children.

Test Methodology: Quantitative assessment of the frequency of joint family engagement across recreational, social, and routine domains.

Keywords

Family Activity Scale, internal consistency, predictive validity, Cronbach’s alpha, family engagement, child development outcomes.

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Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Information not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Information not provided in source material.

Correspondence Address: Information not provided in source material. Original affiliation: Ph.D. Psychology, University of London (1985).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The FAS was developed in 1985 by M. Smith. Information regarding current permissions, usage fees, and licensing restrictions must be sought directly from the author or the repository hosting the scale. The instrument was historically available via the following resource: http://www.teescpp.org.uk/scales-and-questionnaires

Reference’s

Smith M (1985). The Effects of Low Levels of Lead on Urban Children: The relevance of social factors. Ph.D. Psychology, University of London.

Olson, D. H., Portner, J., & Bell, R. Q. (1982). Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES). Family Social Science, University of Minnesota.

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Items of the Family Activity Scale (FAS)

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

Activity if YES ‚ please tick

AGED 2 TO 6

• Have you read a story to your child in the last week?
• Has your child eaten with you and other family members at least once in the last week?
• Did you do anything special for your child on their last birthday‚ such as a cake‚ party‚ trip to the park etc.?
• Have you gone with your child/family to the park‚ playground‚ farm or similar in the last month?
• Have you gone with your child/family to a local event‚ such as county show‚ fete‚ in the last 6 months?
• Have you ever belonged to a mother/toddler baby group of any kind for at least 3 months?
• Have you and your child/family visited friends who have young children in the last month?
• Has the family been away for the day out to somewhere different in the last 6 months (town/into town/to the seaside/day trip)?
• Has your child had a friend to visit in the last 6 months?
• Has your child been to visit relatives or friends as a treat for her/him in the last 6 months?
• Are there any other things you have done as a family/with your child in the last:
  • Week
  • Month
  • Last 6 months

AGED 7 TO 12

• Had a friend of your child to visit – in the last month?
• Had a birthday celebration (i.e. party/cake)?
• Been to the cinema/museum/zoo/panto/local event – in the last 3 months?
• Been swimming/skating/other (participant) sport – in the last 3 months?
• Been away on holiday with the family/to the seaside – in the past year?
• Been to the park/for a picnic/local farm – in the last 3 months?
• Has – or had – any pets in the past year?
• Attended any special classes/clubs i.e. football‚ dance – in the last 3 months?
• Been to stay with relatives or friends (without parents) – in the last year?
• Visited own friends (i.e. for a meal/for the day) – in the last 3 months
• Belongs to a children’s library?
• Are there any other things you have done as a family/with your child in the last:
  • Week
  • Month
  • Last 6 months