Process / pipelinefamily systems and functioning

Family Assessment Device (FAD)

The Family Assessment Device is a widely used self-report instrument designed to measure family functioning across six key domains derived from the McMaster Model of Family Functioning. Developed by Epstein, Baldwin, and Bishop in 1983, the FAD assesses problem-solving, communication, roles, affective responsiveness, affective involvement, and behavioral control in families. It is used extensively in family therapy research, clinical assessment of family dynamics, and as an outcome measure in family-based interventions for mental health, medical, and developmental conditions.

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Sources

  1. Epstein, N. B., Baldwin, L. M., & Bishop, D. S. (1983). The McMaster Family Assessment Device. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 9(2), 171-180. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.1983.tb01497.x
  2. Miller, I. W., Ryan, C. E., Keitner, G. I., Bishop, D. S., & Epstein, N. B. (2000). The McMaster approach to families: Theory, assessment, treatment and research. Journal of Family Therapy, 22(2), 168-189. DOI: 10.1111/1467-6427.00145

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ScholarGateFamily Assessment Device (Family Assessment Device (FAD)). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://scholargate.app/en/social-psychology/family-assessment-device