Purpose of the Questionnaire (Scale)

The Family Environment Scale (FES) aims to measure and assess individuals’ perceptions of their family’s interpersonal environment. It is primarily addressed to adolescents and adults and is widely used in psychological counseling and research to explore family dynamics. The scale is applied in both educational and therapeutic contexts and has been used in numerous international and Greek studies.

Analysis of the Questionnaire (Scale)

The scale was developed by R. Moos and B. Moos in 1981. It consists of a total of 90 items divided into ten subscales. There are three versions of the scale: the “real” form, which evaluates how participants perceive their actual family environment; the “ideal” form, which assesses their preferences for how they would like their family environment to be; and the “expected” form, which measures what they anticipate from their family environment. In the Greek adaptation, only the real form is used. The ten subscales are grouped into three broader dimensions: relationship dimensions, personal growth dimensions, and system maintenance dimensions. The relationship dimensions capture the level of support, expressiveness, and cohesion among family members. The personal growth dimensions assess values such as independence and achievement, while the system maintenance dimensions refer to organizational and moral characteristics of family life.

Scoring of Items

Scoring is based on a four-point Likert scale (ranging from “Strongly agree” to “Strongly disagree”). Participants indicate whether each statement reflects the reality of their family. The average score for each subscale is calculated, and each of the ten subscales is used to extract indicators that describe the characteristics of the individual’s family environment.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis of the Greek adaptation revealed Pearson correlation coefficients among the ten subscales ranging from 0.007 to 0.57. Of the 45 calculated coefficients, 35 were statistically significant and aligned with theoretical expectations. This range demonstrates satisfactory internal consistency across the subscales. The analysis contributes to forming a reliable psychometric tool that captures multiple dimensions of family functioning.

Validity of the Questionnaire (Scale)

The scale demonstrates high face validity, as the items clearly reflect the constructs they intend to measure. The statistical correlations among the subscales support the internal structure of the instrument. Greek research literature includes evidence of validity through school-based applications, such as the study by Tzelit (2001), which identified correlations with variables like stress, self-esteem, and academic performance.

Reliability of the Questionnaire (Scale)

Internal consistency reliability indices (Cronbach’s α) in the original Moos and Moos sample (N = 1,067) ranged from 0.61 to 0.78. In the Greek sample, some subscales showed lower reliability, such as Expressiveness (α = 0.40) and Goal Achievement (α = 0.45). Despite these variations, the overall reliability of the scale is considered acceptable for research and diagnostic use.

Bibliography

Tzelit, E. (2001). Stress, self-esteem, family climate and adolescents’ academic performance. A systemic-ecological approach. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Patras.

Tzelit-Giannatou, E. (2002, October). The relationship of adolescents’ family interpersonal climate with their academic performance. Conference of the Psychology Department, University of Athens, Athens.

Moos, R., & Moos, B. (1981). Family Environment Scale Manual. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.