Psychometric quality of family adaptability and cohesion evaluation scale IV by latent class analysis; quantitative study on the elderly in Romania
Psychometric quality of family adaptability and cohesion evaluation scale IV by latent class analysis; quantitative study on the elderly in Romania

Summary/Abstract: Objective. The aim of this study is to show the strengths of Romanian version of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale IV (FACES IV) on a sample of subjects without apparent problems and to assess the cohesion and flexibility of the FACES IV according to gender, age and place of residence. FACES is useful in clinical evaluations and assessments of marital and family therapeutic interventions, in research highlighting changes within family life cycles.Material and method. A cross-sectional study on 601 subjects aged between 55 and 93 years, using Latent Class Analysis with 2 models: clusters and discrete factors.Results. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was from .55 for the Chaotic scale to .80 for the Cohesion scale and over .91 for the Communication and Satisfaction scales. Like the author of the instrument the study identified 6 types of families. About three quarters described family as balanced or midrange. The Pearson Chi-Square showed that there was a statistically significant difference in Circumplex Total Ratio score between the different residence places (p<0.05), the share of the unhealthy family system being higher in the rural area compared with the urban environment. No significant differences in Circumplex Total Ratio scores between genders or age groups were observed.Conclusion. The absence of significant differences by gender or age group indicated that ageing requires abandoning the interactional competitive model and a good behavior in adaptability and cohesion. The Chaotic concept in the Romanian ex-Communist cultural space could be clarified by interviews.

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