FAMILY-INTERACTION AND INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH

Two studies explored the relationships between individual psychological health (PH) status and perceptions of family interaction and family climate variables as perceived by young adults. Psychological health was defined within inter- and intrapersonal domains, represented by social interest and psychological hardiness. Scores on social interest and hardiness instruments were standardized and added to put the construct of psychological health into practice. Family interaction variables were measured with Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales-III (FACES-III), the Children's Report of Parent Behavior Inventory-30 (CRPBI-30), Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale (PAC), Family Satisfaction Scale (FSS), and the Family Environment Scale (FES). Multivariate analyses indicated that PH status was associated with several family variables, with cohesion emerging as a key dimension. Implications for counseling are discussed.