McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD)

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Abstract

The McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD) is a widely utilized, self-report psychological scale designed to measure family functioning according to the parameters established by the McMaster Model of Family Functioning (MMFF). Developed by Epstein, Baldwin, and Bishop in 1983, the FAD provides a comprehensive assessment of structural, organizational, and transactional characteristics within a family unit. It is particularly valuable in clinical settings and research for identifying dysfunctional patterns across six key dimensions of family life, plus a measure of overall family health.

The FAD consists of 60 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale and is structured to provide scores on seven subscales, allowing clinicians and researchers to pinpoint specific areas of strength and weakness within the family system. Its robust psychometric properties, including high internal consistency, have made it a standard tool for assessing family dynamics across diverse populations globally.

Keywords

McMaster Family Assessment Device, FAD, family functioning, family assessment, McMaster Model of Family Functioning, psychological scale, communication, problem solving, behavioral control

Authors

Nathan B. Epstein, Linda M. Baldwin, Dennis S. Bishop

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Family Assessment Device (FAD) is to operationalize the theoretical constructs of the McMaster Model of Family Functioning (MMFF), translating abstract concepts into quantifiable measures. This allows for standardized assessment of family health and pathology.

In clinical practice, the FAD helps therapists diagnose family dysfunction, plan targeted interventions, and monitor treatment efficacy. For research purposes, it provides a reliable and valid instrument for studying the relationships between family characteristics and various mental health outcomes in both children and adults. The scale aims to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy family units by measuring how effectively the family manages universal tasks, such as handling crises, maintaining boundaries, and expressing emotions.

Construct

The FAD is grounded in the McMaster Model of Family Functioning, which views family structure and organization as crucial determinants of family effectiveness. The model posits that healthy families are those capable of meeting the needs of their members and adapting to changing circumstances. The FAD measures functioning across six specific dimensions, plus a seventh scale for General Functioning, which encompasses the overall health of the family system.

The six core dimensions measured by the FAD are:

  • Problem Solving: The family’s ability to resolve problems that threaten functional capacity.
  • Communication: The quality and clarity of information exchange within the family.
  • Roles: The established patterns of behavior for handling family functions (e.g., provision of resources, nurturing). (Note: While ‘Roles’ is a core MMFF dimension, the specific items provided in the source content focus on the other six dimensions, but FAD traditionally measures Roles.)
  • Affective Responsiveness: The ability of family members to respond appropriately to a range of emotional stimuli.
  • Affective Involvement: The extent to which family members demonstrate interest in and value each other’s activities and concerns.
  • Behavioral Control: The patterns by which the family maintains standards and regulates behavior in potentially dangerous or socially unacceptable situations.
  • General Functioning: An overall index reflecting the psychological health or pathology of the family unit.

Validity

The validity of the FAD has been supported through numerous studies demonstrating its ability to discriminate between clinical and non-clinical populations, thus establishing criterion validity. The structure of the FAD aligns strongly with the theoretical dimensions of the McMaster Model of Family Functioning, supporting its construct validity.

Research, such as that conducted by Aarons et al. (2007), has specifically investigated the factor structure and validity across diverse ethnic groups, confirming that the FAD maintains its measurement properties for both Caucasian and Hispanic American populations. This suggests that the scale’s underlying factors are robust across different cultural contexts, enhancing its clinical utility and generalizability.

Reliability

The FAD demonstrates strong internal consistency reliability, typically measured using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients. The reliability estimates for the subscales and the overall measure, as reported in the source content and consistent with broader literature, indicate high reliability:

  • Problem Solving: 0.72
  • Communication: 0.68
  • Affective Responsiveness: 0.68
  • Affective Involvement: 0.70
  • Behavioral Control: 0.75
  • General Functioning: 0.82
  • Overall FAD Score: 0.93

The overall alpha coefficient of 0.93 indicates excellent internal consistency for the total scale, confirming that the items consistently measure the latent construct of family functioning. Subscale reliabilities are generally acceptable for research purposes, with the General Functioning scale showing particularly high consistency.

Factor Analysis

Factor analysis studies typically confirm the multidimensional structure of the FAD, supporting the six core dimensions derived from the McMaster Model of Family Functioning. Although the scale is often treated as a measure of seven factors (six dimensions plus General Functioning), the items within each dimension tend to load highly onto their respective factors.

Studies examining the factor structure across different populations, including cross-cultural adaptations (e.g., the Spanish version developed by Barroilhet et al., 2009), generally uphold the intended factorial structure, although minor variations may occur depending on the specific sample characteristics. The strong factor loadings contribute significantly to the FAD’s status as a reliable psychological scale for assessing family dynamics.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological scale

Format: 60 items, using a 4-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly agree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Disagree, 4 = Strongly disagree). Items are scored such that higher scores indicate poorer or more dysfunctional family functioning.

Language Available: English, Spanish, and numerous other translations due to its widespread international use.

Population Group: Clinical and non-clinical families, including adolescents and adults capable of self-report.

Age Group: Typically 12 years and older (adolescents and adults).

Population Details: Used across various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, including specific validation studies for Caucasian and Hispanic Americans.

Test Methodology: Individual members complete the questionnaire independently, reflecting their perception of the family unit’s functioning. Scores are calculated for each of the six dimensions and the General Functioning scale.

Keywords

MMFF, self-report inventory, clinical psychology, family therapy, affective responsiveness, behavioral control, psychometrics, General Functioning scale

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source material)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided in source material)

Correspondence Address: N/A (Information not provided in source material)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 1983 (Initial publication)

Permissions and Fees: Use of the FAD is typically subject to copyright held by the original authors or their affiliated institutions. Researchers and clinicians should consult the original sources or authorized distributors for current permissions and licensing fees.

The instrument in its entirety can be found in resources such as Latino Families and Youth: A Compendium of Assessment Tools. The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=23171&Itemid

Reference’s

  • Aarons, G. A., McDonald, E. J., Connelly, C. D., & Newton, R. R. (2007). Assessment of family functioning in Caucasian and Hispanic Americans: Reliability, validity, and factor structure of the Family Assessment Device. Family Process, 46(4), 557-569.

  • Barroilhet, S., Cano-Prous, A., Cervera-Enguix, S., Forjaz, M. J., & Guillén-Grima, F. (2009). A Spanish version of the Family Assessment Device. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 44(12), 1051-1065.

  • Epstein, N. B., Baldwin, L. M., & Bishop, D. S. (1983). The Mcma‎ster Family Assessment Device. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 9(2), 171-180.

Items of the Mcma‎ster Family Assessment Device (FAD)

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

PROBLEM SOLVING
1. We resolve most everyday problems around the house.
2. We usually act on our decisions regarding problems.
3. After our family tries to solve a problem‚ we usually discuss whether it worked or not.
4. We resolve most emotional upsets that come up.
5. We confront problems involving feelings.
6. We try to think of different ways to solve problems.
COMMUNICATION
7. When someone is upset the others know why.
8. You can’t tell how a person is feeling from what they are saying.*
9. People come right out and say things instead of hinting at them.
10. I t is difficult to talk to each other about tender feelings.*
11. We talk to people directly rather than through go-betweens.
12. We often don’t say what we mean.*
13. We are frank with each other.
14. We don’t talk to each other when we are angry.*
15. When we don’t like what someone has done‚ we tell them.
AFFECTIVE RESPONSIVENESS
16. We are reluctant to show our affection for each other.*
17. Some of us just don’t respond emotionally.*
18. We do not show our love for each other.*
19. Tenderness takes second place to other things in our family.*
20. We express tenderness.
21. We cry openly.
AFFECTIVE INVOLVEMENT
33. If someone is in trouble‚ the others become too involved.*
34. You only get the interest of others when something is important to them.*
35. We are too self-centered.*
36. We get involved with each other only when something interests us.*
37. We show interest in each other when we can get something out of it personally.
38. Our family shows interest in each other only when they can get something out of it.
39. E en though we mean well‚ we intrude too much into each other’s lives.
BEHAVIORAL CONTROL
40. We don’t know what to do when an emergency comes up.
41. You can easily get away with breaking the rules.*
42. We know what to do in an emergency.
43. We have no clear expectations about toilet habits.
44. We have rules about hitting people.
45. We don’t hold to any rules or standards.
46. I f the rules are broken‚ we don’t know what to expect.
47. Anything goes in our family.*
48. There are rules about dangerous situations.
GENERAL FUNCTIONING
49. Planning family activities is difficult because we misunderstand each other.
50. In times of crisis we can turn to each other for support.
51. We cannot talk to each other about the sadness we feel.
52. Individuals are accepted for what they are.
53. We avoid discussing our fears and concerns.
54. We can express feelings to each other.
55. There are lots of bad feelings in the family.
56. We feel accepted for what we are.
57. Making decisions is a problem for our family.
58. We are able to make decisions about how to solve problems.
59. We don’t get along well together.
60. We confide in each other.

Response Scale:

1 = Strongly agree

2 = Agree

3 = Disagree

4 = Strongly disagree

Cite this article

(2025). McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD). Psychological Scales & Instruments Database. Retrieved from https://db.arabpsychology.com/scales/mcmaster-family-assessment-device-fad/

. "McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD)." Psychological Scales & Instruments Database, 12 Oct. 2025, https://db.arabpsychology.com/scales/mcmaster-family-assessment-device-fad/.

. "McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD)." Psychological Scales & Instruments Database, 2025. https://db.arabpsychology.com/scales/mcmaster-family-assessment-device-fad/.

(2025) 'McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD)', Psychological Scales & Instruments Database. Available at: https://db.arabpsychology.com/scales/mcmaster-family-assessment-device-fad/.

[1] , "McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD)," Psychological Scales & Instruments Database, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, October, 2025.

. McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD). Psychological Scales & Instruments Database. 2025;vol(issue):pages.

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