Family Values Questionnaire (FV-18)

Overview

The Family Values Questionnaire (FV-18) is a psychometric instrument developed by John (Dimitris) Georgas to assess individuals’ attitudes toward traditional family values and the interpersonal relationships that shape family life. The questionnaire examines the extent to which respondents endorse beliefs related to family organization, parental authority, gender roles, and reciprocal obligations between parents and children. As one of the most widely recognized instruments in cross-cultural family research, the FV-18 provides valuable insights into how cultural, social, and demographic factors influence family value systems.

Objective

The primary objective of the Family Values Questionnaire (FV-18) is to evaluate individuals’ acceptance of traditional family values and the social roles that operate within the family system. The instrument enables researchers to examine how people perceive authority, responsibility, and intergenerational obligations, while also exploring the influence of modernization, education, and cultural change on family beliefs.

Specifically, the FV-18 is designed to:

  • Assess attitudes toward traditional family values.
  • Examine beliefs regarding parental authority and family hierarchy.
  • Evaluate perceived responsibilities of parents toward children.
  • Investigate children’s perceived obligations toward their family.
  • Explore cultural and demographic influences on family value orientations.

Scale Structure

The FV-18 consists of 18 self-report items organized into three core dimensions:

  • Hierarchical relationships between mother and father.
  • Parental responsibilities toward children.
  • Children’s responsibilities toward the family.

Participants indicate their level of agreement with each statement using a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree). The questionnaire captures respondents’ personal beliefs regarding family values, social roles, and intergenerational relationships, providing a multidimensional assessment of traditional family orientations.

Applications

The FV-18 has been extensively applied in family psychology, sociology, developmental psychology, education, and cross-cultural research. It is particularly valuable for investigating cultural differences in family beliefs, examining the effects of social change on family structures, and studying the relationships between family values and demographic variables such as age, gender, education, socioeconomic status, and cultural background.

The instrument has also been widely used in international comparative studies exploring how family value systems vary across societies and how these values influence parenting practices, family cohesion, intergenerational solidarity, and socialization processes.

Scoring and Psychometric Evaluation

Responses are scored on a 7-point Likert scale, and individual item scores are summed to produce both an overall score and subscale scores for each of the three thematic dimensions. Higher scores indicate stronger endorsement of traditional family values, whereas lower scores reflect more egalitarian or contemporary attitudes toward family roles and responsibilities.

In research settings, the psychometric evaluation of the FV-18 typically includes analyses of internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA/CFA), descriptive statistics, group comparisons (t-tests and ANOVA), correlation analyses (Pearson or Spearman), and multiple regression models. These procedures are used to evaluate the scale’s reliability, construct validity, and its associations with demographic, psychological, and cultural variables.

Interpretation

Higher FV-18 scores reflect greater endorsement of traditional family values, including stronger support for hierarchical family structures, clearly defined parental roles, and reciprocal obligations between parents and children. Conversely, lower scores suggest more egalitarian, individualistic, or contemporary perspectives on family relationships and responsibilities. The instrument therefore provides an effective means of examining shifts in family values across generations, cultures, and changing social contexts.

References

Georgas, D. (1991). Intrafamily Acculturation of Family Values in Greece. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 22, 445–457.

Georgas, J., Berry, J. W., van de Vijver, F. J. R., Kagitcibasi, C., & Poortinga, Y. H. (2006). Families Across Cultures: A 30-Nation Psychological Study. Cambridge University Press.

Georgas, J., Christakopoulou, S., Poortinga, Y. H., Angleitner, A., Goodwin, R., & Charalambous, N. (1997). The Relationship of Family Bonds to Family Structure and Function Across Cultures. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology.