Psychology RootsFamily Bonding – Individual Protective Factors Index
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About Family Bonding – Individual Protective Factors Index
Scale Name
Family Bonding – Individual Protective Factors Index
Author Details
Joel Phillips and David W. Springer (1992)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Family Bonding – Individual Protective Factors Index, developed by Joel Phillips and David W. Springer in 1992, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure family bonding and communication among students in grades 7-11 (ages 12-17). Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005) and referenced in Gabriel (1994), the scale is grounded in resilience and social control theories (Hirschi, 1969), assessing protective factors that buffer against risk behaviors like delinquency or substance use. It was used to evaluate family-related strengths in urban youth populations.
The scale comprises 6 items rated on a 4-point scale (e.g., YES!, yes, no, NO!). Examples include “I can tell my parents the way I feel about things” and “My family expects too much of me” (reverse-scored). Scores are summed (range: 6-24), with higher scores indicating stronger family bonding and communication. Validated in urban middle and high school samples, it is used to assess family connectedness, inform prevention programs, and study protective factors.
Psychologists, educators, and public health researchers use the scale to evaluate family influences, design interventions, and explore correlates of positive youth outcomes. Its brevity and focus on protective factors are strengths, but its moderate internal consistency and English-only availability limit reliability and broader use.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses family bonding to support positive development, emphasizing anonymity and using age-appropriate, non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to rate statements about family communication and closeness, using the 4-point scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 2-3 minutes, given the 6-item format.
- Administer in a classroom or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration may be used for students with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Family Bonding – Individual Protective Factors Index has moderate psychometric properties, as reported in Gabriel (1994) and cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is acceptable but low, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.58, indicating limited item cohesion, possibly due to the small number of items. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate based on similar protective factor measures (r ≈ 0.50-0.70 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as reduced delinquency (r ≈ -0.20 to -0.40) and positive parent-child relationships (r ≈ 0.30-0.50). Discriminant validity is inferred from weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its use in predicting positive outcomes in prevention studies. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s unidimensional focus supports construct validity. The moderate reliability suggests cautious use, ideally paired with validated measures like the Parental-Child Attachment scale (Thornberry et al., 1991).
Available Versions
06-Items
Reference
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Family Bonding – Individual Protective Factors Index measure?
It measures family bonding and communication among students.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, educators, and researchers studying grades 7-11 students.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 2-3 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets urban students in grades 7-11.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, but moderate reliability (α = 0.58) suggests use with validated measures.
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