Friedman Family Assessment Model (Short Form)

Before using the following guidelines in completing family assessments, two words of
caution: First, not all areas included below will be germane for each of the families
visited. The guidelines are comprehensive and allow depth when probing is necessary.
The student should not feel that every subarea needs to be covered when the broad area of
inquiry poses no problems to the family or concern to the health worker. Second, by
virtue of the interdependence of the family system, one will find unavoidable
redundancy. For the sake of efficiency, the assessor should try not to repeat data, but to
refer the reader back to sections where this information has already been described.

IDENTIFYING DATA
1. Family Name
2. Address and Phone
3. Family Composition: The Family Genogram
4. Type of Family Form
5. Cultural (Ethnic) Background
6. Religious Identification
7. Social Class Status
8. Social Class Mobility
DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE AND HISTORY OF FAMILY
9. Familys Present Developmental Stage
10. Extent of Developmental Tasks Fulfillment
11. Nuclear Family History
12. History of Family of Origin of Both Parents
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
13. Characteristics of Home
14. Characteristics of Neighborhood and Larger Community
15. Familys Geographic Mobility
16. Familys Associations and Transactions with Community
FAMILY STRUCTURE
17. Communication Patterns
Extent of Functional and Dysfunctional Communication (types of
recurring patterns)
Extent of Emotional (Affective) Messages and How Expressed
Characteristics of Communication within Family Subsystems
Extent of Congruent and Incongruent Messages
Types of Dysfunctional Communication Processes Seen in Family
Areas of Closed Communication
Familial and External Variables Affecting Communication

18. Power Structure

Power Outcomes
Decision-Making Process
Power Bases
Variables Affecting Family Power
Overall Family System and Subsystem Power (Family Power Continuum
Placement)
19. Role Structure
Formal Role Structure
Informal Role Structure
Analysis of Role Models (optional)
Variables Affecting Role Structure
20. Family Values
Compare the family to American core values or familys reference group
values and/or identify important family values and their importance
(priority) in family.
Congruence Between the Familys Values and the Familys Reference
Group or Wider Community
Disparity in Value Systems
Presence of Value Conflicts in Family
Effect of the Above Values and Value Conflicts on Health Status of
Family
FAMILY FUNCTIONS
21. Affective Function
Mutual Nurturance, Closeness, and Identification
Separateness and Connectedness
Familys Need-Response Patterns
22. Socialization Function
Family Child-rearing Practices
Adaptability of Child-rearing Practices for Family Form and Familys
Situation
Who Is (Are) Socializing Agent(s) for Child(ren)?
Value of Children in Family
Cultural Beliefs That Influence Familys Child-rearing Patterns
Social Class Influence on Child-rearing Patterns
Estimation About Whether Family Is at Risk for Child-rearing Problems
and, if so, Indication of High-Risk Factors Adequacy of Home
Environment for Childrens Need to Play
23. Health Care Function
Familys Health Beliefs, Values, and Behavior
Familys Definitions of Health-Illness and Its Level of Knowledge
Familys Perceived Health Status and Illness Susceptibility
Familys Dietary Practices

Adequacy of family diet (recommended 24-hour food history

record).
Function of mealtimes and attitudes toward food and mealtimes.
Shopping (and its planning) practices.
Person(s) responsible for planning, shopping, and preparation of
meals.
Sleep and Rest Habits
Physical Activity and Recreation Practices
Familys Therapeutic and Recreational Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco
Practices
Familys Role in Self-care Practices
Medically Based Preventive Measures (physicals, eye and hearing tests,
immunizations, dental care)
Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Family Health History (both general and specific diseases
environmentally and genetically related)
Health Care Services Received
Feelings and Perceptions Regarding Health Services
Emergency Health Services
Source of Payments for Health and Other Services
Logistics of Receiving Care

FAMILY STRESS, COPING, AND ADAPTATION

24. Family Stressors, Strengths, and Perceptions
Stressors Family is Experiencing
Strengths that Counterbalance Stressors
Familys Definition of the Situation
25. Family Coping Strengths
How the Family is Reacting to the Stressors
Extent of Familys Use of Internal Coping Strategies (past/present)
Extent of Familys Use of External Coping Strategies (past/present)
Dysfunctional Coping Strategies Utilized (past/present; extent of use)
26. Family Adaptation
Overall Family Adaptation
Estimation of Whether Family is in Crisis
27. Tracking Stressors, Coping, and Adaptations Over Time

From Friedman MM, Bowden VR, Jones EG: Family nursing: research, theory, and
practice, 5th ed., Stamford, CT, 2003, Prentice Hall.