FAD (GF6+)🔗

Name

Family Assessment Device (General Functioning) (FAD (GF6+))

Table Namemh_cg_fad
Construct

Global Functioning of the Family Unit

Study Visits

V04, V06

TypeIn-person/Remote Questionnaire (Parent on Child; 2 min)
Quality Control
  • Item- and measure-level missingness were examined.
  • Check 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.

The FAD items are rated on a 4-point scale (1 = Strongly Agree to 4 = Strongly Disagree), where higher average scores indicate greater family dysfunction. Items marked "Decline to Answer" or left unanswered are not scored and are excluded from score calculations.

A scale score is calculated only when the caregiver provides numerical responses for at least 3 items. The score is computed as the average of all answered items:

Average Score = Sum of answered items ÷ Number of answered items

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