Family Satisfaction Scale (FSS) : David H. Olson, Ph.D. I. Overview of Family Satisfaction
Family Satisfaction Scale (FSS) : David H. Olson, Ph.D. I. Overview of Family Satisfaction
Family Satisfaction Scale (FSS) : David H. Olson, Ph.D. I. Overview of Family Satisfaction
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While there has been a great deal of research on marital satisfaction, a literature review found no family satisfaction scale. So in the early 1980s, David Olson and Marc Wilson (1982; 1989) created what we presumed to be the first family satisfaction scale. This scale was developed to provide a reliable and valid instrument for use in family research and family therapy. A. Conceptual Definition Family satisfaction is defined as the degree to which family members feel happy and fulfilled with each other. The operational definition includes the three dimensions that are related to the Circumplex Modelcohesion, flexibility and communication. So items in the family satisfaction scale assess the satisfaction in all three of these dimensions. B. Theoretical Foundation At the time of the development of the Family Satisfaction Scale there were no other family satisfaction measures found in the literature. Based on the integrative nature, theoretical salience, and clinical relevance of the Circumplex Model, the Family Satisfaction Scale was designed to assess overall family satisfaction including the two main dimensions of this model, cohesion and flexibility. Hypotheses: The basic hypothesis of the Circumplex Model is that balanced families will be more satisfied with their system than unbalanced families. (1) Families that have high scores on balanced cohesion and balanced flexibility will have higher levels of family satisfaction. Conversely, families with high scores on the unbalanced scales will have lower levels of family satisfaction. More specifically: Balanced families will have significantly higher family satisfaction than Unbalanced families. (2) Family satisfaction will have a positive relationship to Family Communication. More specifically: Families high in family satisfaction will have significantly better family communication that families low in satisfaction.
Table 1: Intercorrelations of Satisfaction Variables Marital Satisfaction (L-W) Marital Satifaction (LockeWallace) Marital Satisfaction (ENRICH) Family Satisfaction Quality of Life .48 Marital Satisfaction (ENRICH) .73 Family Satisfaction Quality of Life
.66
.50
.81
.45
.64
.51
Individual Data
.70
.71
.35
.61
.52
.55
.67
.35
Couple Means
HusbandWife Correlations
As can be seen in Table 1, marital satisfaction accounts for half of the variation in family satisfaction (r=.70, r-squared=.49), and family satisfaction accounts for nearly half of the variance in quality of life (r=.67, r-squared=.45). The lower correlations between husband and wife scores indicate that it is indeed individual realities which are being measured rather than a family reality. Satisfaction across the life cycle as examined by the national study is displayed in Figure 1 showing that satisfaction is not a static variable but one which changes with changes in the family life cycle. Findings were similar for two measures of marital satisfaction and a measure of quality of life.
Adolescent Female
Family satisfaction seems to follow the same shallow U curve across the family life cycle as has been found with marital satisfaction in previous studies (Olson, et.al. 1989).Family satisfaction starts our higher for wives than husbands as has been found with marital satisfaction. Satisfaction then dips for both husbands and wives reaching its lowest point as adolescents reach the launching stage and then rises. T-tests revealed significant differences in satisfaction levels with satisfaction being higher at earlier couple stages (stages 1 and 2) than at childrearing and launching stages (stages 4 and 5) for both husbands and wives. It is interesting to note that adolescents reports of family satisfaction are very similar to their parents when group mean scores are used. However correlation among fathers, mothers and adolescents scores are low (r=.32) and the difference in male and female adolescent scores are significant. B. Reliability of the Scale Based on a sample of 2,465 family members, the 10 item family satisfaction scale has an alpha reliability of .92 and test re-test of .85. C. Mean & Standard Deviation Based on a sample of 2,465 family members, the mean score for the scale is 37.5 and standard deviation is 8.5.
D. Scoring of the Family Satisfaction Scale 1. Add all items of the Family Satisfaction scale. 2. The sum of these items is the total score. 3. The range of scores is from 10-50. Family Satisfaction: Interpretation of Scores
Percentage and Levels
Family Satisfaction Family Satisfaction Raw Percent 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 10-25 99 98 97 94 92 87 84 79 75 71 66 58 51 45 40 35 30 28 25 23 21 18 15 13 12 10
Family members are very satisfied and really enjoy most aspects of their family.
Family members are somewhat satisfied and enjoy some aspects of their family. Family members are somewhat dissatisfied and have some concerns about their family.
Family members are very dissatisfied and are concerned about their family.
How satisfied are you with: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. . The degree of closeness between family members. Your familys ability to cope with stress. Your familys ability to be flexible. Your familys ability to share positive experiences. The quality of communication between family members. Your familys ability to resolve conflicts. The amount of time you spend together as a family. The way problems are discussed. The fairness of criticism in your family. Family members concern for each other.
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