Page Last Updated: May 14, 2026

FAD (GF6+)🔗

Family Assessment Device

Table Name	`mh_cg_fad`
Construct	Global Functioning of the Family Unit
Study Visits	V04, V06
Administration	Child-specific: No Respondent: Birth Parent or Primary Caregiver Method: Administered by Self or HBCD Study staff, in person or remote (2 min estimated duration)
Quality Control	Item- and measure-level missingness were examined. CCheck age is within expected ranges. Scoring algorithm evaluated to ensure correct score calculations. Review summary statistics and visualizations (item frequencies, scores distributions, prorated scoring). Cronbach’s alpha calculated to assess inter-item reliability.

The HBCD dataset includes many variables that may be important for sound and comprehensive analysis. The inclusion of additional variables will depend on the research question(s) and methodological approach. Users are encouraged to take time to explore the full range of available variables — especially those that may serve as controls, contextual indicators, confounders, mechanisms, or modifiers — to ensure thoughtful and well-supported analytic decisions. Other important considerations may include developmental functioning, broader family supports, and early adverse and protective exposures.

Instrument Details🔗

The General Functioning (GF) subscale of the Family Assessment Device (FAD) measures global functioning of the family unit, aiming to capture the quality of communication, emotional climate, problem-solving, and closeness among members the family unit. The original 12-item (GF12) subscale is one of seven subscales of The McMaster Family Assessment Device (Epstein et al., 1983). A shorter, validated 6-item (GF6+) subscale includes the six positively worded items from the GF12 (Boterhoven de Haan et al., 2015). The GF6+ is used in HBCD.

Scores are computed by the following method:

Sum all numerical item responses. The items are scored as coded:

1 = Strongly Agree 2 = Agree 3 = Disagree 4 = Strongly Disagree
If caregiver omits an item or selects “decline to answer,” that item receives no numerical score. The participant must provide a numerical response for 3 or more items in order to receive a total scale/average score.
Divide the sum by the number of items receiving a numerical response. Do not include items marked “decline to answer” or items receiving no response in determining the total number of items.

References🔗

Barroilhet, S., Cano-Prous, A., Cervera-Enguix, S., Forjax, M. J., & Guillén-Grima, F. (2009). A Spanish version of the Family Assessment Device. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 44, 1051–1065. doi: 10.1007/s00127-009-0022-8

Boterhoven de Haan, K. L., Hafekost, J., Lawrence, D., Sawyer, M. G., & Zubrick, S. R. (2015). Reliability and validity of a short version of the general functioning subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device. Family Process, 54(1), 116–123. doi: 10.1111/famp.12113

Edwards, R. C., Planalp, E. M., Bosquet-Enlow, M., Akshoomoff, N., Bodison, S. C., Brennan, M. B., Ciciolla, L., Eiden, R. D., Fillipi, C. A., Gustafsson, H. C., McKelvey, L. M., Morris, A. S., Peralta-Carcelén, M., Poehlmann, J., Wakschlag, L. S., Wilson, S., & HBCD Child Behavior and Caregiver-Child Interaction Workgroup. (2024). Capturing the complexity of child behavior and caregiver-child relationships in the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study using a rigorous and equitable approach. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 69, 101422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101422

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. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.1983.tb01497.x