Relationship with family of origin scale (REFAMOS) - Interrater reliability and associations with childhood experiences

Background Family relationships in the transition from childhood to adult l ife may be important mediators of risk and resilience for adult psychopatho logy. Aims To develop a reliable and valid measure of the quality of relationship s with each parent in young adults. Method Interrater reliability of the Relationship with Family of Origin Sca le (REFAMOS) was assessed from audiotaped interviews with 59 subjects. Age- related trends and associations with recalled childhood relationships were examined in survivors of childhood cancer and their controls (n=178), Results Intraclass correlation coefficients were in the range 0.69-0.95, an d kappa values 0.80-0.82. Indices of current closeness to mothers were nega tively correlated with age of subject and positively correlated with recall ed maternal care in childhood. Negative qualities in current relationships were correlated with recalled overprotection. Conclusions The REFAMOS has good interrater reliability, and shows the pred icted age-related trends in scores and associations with recalled childhood relationships.