Family Environment Scale (FES)

Instrument Description:

The Family Environment Scale (FES) assesses ten dimensions of the social climate of all types of families. The FES is used to contrast parent/child perceptions, formulate clinical case descriptions, identify important issues in family treatment, teach clinicians about the dynamics of family systems, and identify family strengths and problems. Norms are based on 1,432 normal families and 788 distressed families.

Instrument Development and Research Contact: Rudolf Moos, Ph.D.

Instrument and scoring instruction availability: Rudolf Moos, Ph.D.

References:

Moos, R., Finney, J., & Cronkite, R. (1990). Alcoholism Treatment: Context, Process, and Outcome. New York: Oxford.

/* This book describes the use of the Community-Oriented Programs Environment Scale, the Family Environment Scale, and the Work Environment Scale, in long-term studies of treatment outcome among alcoholic patients.

Timko, C. & Moos, R. (1996). The mutual influence of family support and youth adaptation. In G. Pierce, B. Sarason, & I. Sarason (Eds.) Handbook of social support and the family (pp. 289-310). New York: Plenum.

/* This chapter focuses on the use of the Family Environment Scale in examining the mutual influence of family social climates and children on each other.