FAMILY RELATIONSHIP ASSESSMENT IN RESEARCH AND PRACTICE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF MEASUREMENT TOOLS AND SCALES

Abstract

The study explores the varied scales and instruments used in the literature while assessing family relations from family members' viewpoints. The researcher depended on the systematic review methodology. The systematic review procedure adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence. Scopus and APA PsycInfo were used for extracting the required studies after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results revealed that family assessment instruments—whether scales or questionnaires—are essential because they provide standardized and structured methods for assessing the intricate dynamics of family functioning. These scales are shared by the majority of family assessment instruments, including adaptability or flexibility (ability to modify roles and rules in response to stress), communication (clarity and openness of exchanges), cohesion (emotional bonding and connectedness), and problem-solving or coping (ability to address and resolve difficulties) are some examples. (149 word)