DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF THE CODEPENDENCY ASSESSMENT-TOOL

Codependency constitutes a significant health risk, particularly for w omen, because codependent women are often involved in abusive and pote ntially harmful relationships. Individuals who are identified as codep endent can engage in therapy and gain knowledge and freedom from such relationships. However, there is no reliable and valid measure of code pendency that is consistently used to identify these individuals. This article describes the development and testing of the Codependency Ass essment Tool, a multivariate tool that conceptualizes codependency as a construct comprising five factors: (1) Other Focus/Self-Neglect, (2) Low Self-Worth, (3) Hiding Self, (4) Medical Problems, and (5) Family of Origin Issues. The instrument has excellent reliability and validi ty. Its test-retest reliabilities = .78 to .94; Cronbach's alpha = .78 to .91. Criterion validity was determined to be established by using known groups; construct validity was established by comparing the code pendency dimensions with depression. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunde rs Company.