The Factor Structure of the Chinese Family Assessment Instrument Adapted for Parent Report. (February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mellor, David; Xu, Xiaoyan; Wong, Jessica; Richardson, Ben
• Is Part Of: Assessment. Volume 21:Number 1(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 60
• Page End: 66
• Publication Date: 2014-02
• Subjects: family functioning -- China -- C-FAI -- confirmatory factor analysis; Psychological tests -- Periodicals; Psychodiagnostics -- Periodicals; Personality tests -- Periodicals; 150.287
• DOI: 10.1177/1073191111425855
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1073-1911

Abstract

This article reports on a confirmatory factor analytic study of an adapted version of an instrument designed to assess family functioning of Chinese families. The Chinese Family Assessment Instrument, originally designed for completion by adolescents, was adapted for completion by parents. A sample of 700 parent dyads of elementary school children (382 girls and 318 boys) completed the adapted questionnaire. Initial factor analyses showed that the existing five-factor structure used for adolescents' responses was not a good fit for these data. Instead, a four-factor solution emerged where the factors were positive family functioning, negative family functioning, tolerance for family members, and parental understanding. This structure was the same for both mothers and fathers. Further studies of the Chinese Family Assessment Instrument parent adaptation are required to test the factor structure that emerged. Following such studies, validation studies will be required.