CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT AND EMPIRICAL USE OF THE FAMILY INTRUSIVENESS SCALE

This article reports on the conceptual development and empirical use o f the Family Intrusiveness Scale (FIS), an instrument designed to refl ect levels of intrusiveness in the family system. The development of t he FIS and initial data regarding its psychometric properties are pres ented. Furthermore, use of this instrument in published studies is rev iewed as evidence of the scale's reliability and validity. Finally, co nsideration is given to the use of the FIS as a practical and effectiv e tool in future research efforts that focus on adolescents and famili es.