Brief Description

The Self-Report Family Inventory – Version II (SFI-II) is a self-administered questionnaire designed to assess family functioning from the perspective of its members. It evaluates how families respond to everyday demands and crises, how they communicate, solve problems, and express emotions. Version II is a revision of the original SFI, incorporating improved item phrasing and refined psychometric structure.

Purpose

The SFI-II aims to provide a reliable and concise assessment of family dynamics and functioning, both in research and clinical settings. It helps to understand internal family processes, communication patterns, and the sense of cohesion among members, supporting the identification of both strengths and areas of concern.

Scoring Method

The SFI-II consists of 36 statements rated on a five-point Likert scale (1 = Never to 5 = Always). Items are grouped into five core subscales: Family Cohesion, Communication, Organization, Adaptability, and Emotional Expression. Each subscale is scored separately, and a total family functioning index can also be calculated. Some items are reverse scored to control for response consistency.

Validity

The scale demonstrates strong construct and content validity, as shown by its correlations with other family assessment tools such as FACES and the Family Environment Scale (FES). It is also associated with mental health variables, parental satisfaction, and child adjustment, supporting its convergent validity.

Reliability

The SFI-II has high internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.75 to 0.90 across subscales. Test-retest reliability has also been confirmed, showing stable responses over 2–4 week intervals. Its psychometric properties have been validated across diverse populations, including adolescents, adults, and both clinical and non-clinical family groups.

Data Analysis and Use

Data analysis includes calculating subscale and total scores using descriptive and correlational statistics. The tool is often used in intervention programs, family therapy, and research on parent-child relationships and marital dynamics. The results help identify functional and dysfunctional family patterns and can track changes over the course of therapeutic interventions.

References

Beavers, W. R., Hampson, R. B., & Hulgus, Y. F. (1990). Beavers Systems Model Manual: Self-Report Family Inventory (SFI), Version II. Southwest Family Institute, Dallas, TX.
Hampson, R. B., Hulgus, Y. F., & Beavers, W. R. (1991). The Self-Report Family Inventory: Theoretical and research background. Family Process, 30(2), 167–180.
Olson, D. H. (2000). Circumplex Model of marital and family systems. Journal of Family Therapy, 22(2), 144–167.