Introduction
The How Is Your Family Brief Scale for Parents is an 11-item self-report scale that assesses family functioning from the parents' point of view. It measures communication and connection between spouses or partners, and within the nuclear family. The W. K. Kellogg Foundation developed it in 1996, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) published it.
The scale looks at family characteristics that protect an adolescent from risky behaviors. This guide explains its items, scoring and evidence.
Key Features of the How Is Your Family? Brief Scale for Parents
Purpose and Use
The scale evaluates key aspects of family functioning and helps professionals and researchers screen for strengths and possible vulnerabilities in family dynamics that may influence adolescent development and health.
Target Population
The scale is intended for adult parents of children and adolescents aged 10 to 19.
Structure
The scale has 11 positively worded items in two subscales:
Subscale
What it covers
Items
Communication-Connection between Spouses
Satisfaction with how partners talk, ease of expressing feelings, feeling understood and confiding in difficult situations
1–5
Communication-Connection within the Nuclear Family
Sharing household tasks, expressing wishes and thoughts, free time together, daily talks with the children, shared meals and daily shared activities
6–11
Scoring Method
Each item uses a 5-point frequency format:
Response
Score
Never
0
Very rarely
0
Sometimes
1
Frequently
2
Almost always
2
Subscale scores: add the items in each subscale.Total score: add all 11 items.Missing items: all questions should be answered.Higher scores indicate healthier, more functional family communication and connection. No clinical cut-off scores are available.
Administration Format
The scale is a short self-report questionnaire. Parents think about how things are in their family at present and mark their answers.
Applications of the How Is Your Family? Brief Scale for Parents
The scale supports several uses:
Screening: identifying families that may benefit from more comprehensive support or assessment.Practice with parents: giving practitioners a quick snapshot of family communication.Research: studying family functioning, particularly in Spanish-speaking populations.Languages and availability
The scale was first published in Spanish in the Kellogg Foundation's Familia y adolescencia manual. An English version appears in PAHO's Latino Families and Youth compendium of assessment tools.
The scale is free; researchers should use proper citation.
Reliability and Validity
According to the PAHO compendium, the scale has a total reliability of 0.84. The reliability of the subscales is not specified, but the two subscales explain 88% of the variation in parents' perceptions of the family.
Validation studies:
Latino Families and Youth: a compendium of assessment tools (2013), page 23: linkA study using the scale, published on Redalyc: linkLimitations and Considerations
Keep these points in mind:
Narrow scope: the scale focuses on communication and connection, not all aspects of family life.No cut-offs: no clinical cut-off scores are available.Limited psychometric detail: subscale reliability is not reported.Other Versions And Related Questionnaires
The How Is Your Family? Brief Scale for Adolescents is the 14-item companion version for adolescents.
These questionnaires are related:
Family Functionality Scale (FF-SIL), a similar instrument from CubaFamily APGAR, which measures satisfaction with family supportAlabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ), which assesses parenting practices such as positive parenting and disciplineBrief FAM, a quick screening tool for family functioningAdditional Resources
The PAHO Latino Families and Youth compendium: linkFor inquiries, contact the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, 1 Michigan Ave. East, Battle Creek, MI 49017, USA, at conciergedesk@wkkf.org, or visit the PAHO website.Browse more public health questionnaires in the ResRef database.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does the How Is Your Family? Brief Scale for Parents measure?It measures family functioning from the parents' view: communication and connection between spouses or partners, and communication and connection within the nuclear family, across 11 items.
How is the parent scale scored?Never and very rarely score 0, sometimes scores 1, and frequently and almost always score 2. The 11 items are added, and higher scores mean healthier family communication and connection.
Who should complete the parent scale?The scale is intended for parents of children and adolescents aged 10 to 19. A companion 14-item scale asks adolescents about their own families.
Does the parent scale have a cut-off score?No. No clinical cut-off scores are available. The scale gives a quick snapshot of family communication that can help identify families needing more support.
A Word from ResRef About the How Is Your Family? Brief Scale for Parents
The How Is Your Family? Brief Scale for Parents is a concise, freely accessible tool that offers a focused snapshot of a family's communication and connection. Its value lies in its simplicity and its foundation in work by major public health organizations such as PAHO and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. While its narrow scope is a limitation, it is an efficient screening tool for practitioners and researchers working with parents of adolescents, particularly in Spanish-speaking populations. Its ease of administration and scoring makes it an ideal first step in identifying families that may benefit from more comprehensive support or assessment.
References
Fundación W. K. Kellogg. (1996). Familia y adolescencia: Indicadores de salud. Manual de aplicación de instrumentos. http://www.paho.org/Spanish/HPP/HPF/ADOL/Family.pdfOrganización Panamericana de la Salud. (1999). Familia y adolescencia: Indicadores de salud. Manual de aplicación de instrumentos e instrumento abreviado. https://www.paho.org/es/documentos/familia-adolescencia-indicadores-salud-manual-aplicacion-instrumentosPan American Health Organization. (2013). Latino families and youth: A compendium of assessment tools. https://www.paho.org/sites/default/files/MeasurementManual_English.pdf