THE DIFFERENTIATION IN THE FAMILY SYSTEM SCALE (DIFS)

This report outlines efforts to develop a self-report measure that assesses family differentiation. Differentiation is conceptualized as a family-level variable involving interactions that enable individuals to maintain both a sense of ongoing emotional connectedness (support, involvement, personal relationship) and a sense of separateness (autonomy, uniqueness, freedom of personal expression) within the context of their family-of-origin. The scale consists of 11 items and employs a "circular questioning" format to assess an individual's perception of how the various members of the family interact with one another. Scale uses and information on the scale's reliability and validity are presented.