ASSESSMENT OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIP CHARACTERISTICS - A MEASURE TO EXPLAIN RISK FOR ANTISOCIAL-BEHAVIOR AND DEPRESSION AMONG URBAN YOUTH

Two large samples of urban families were used to develop and cross-val idate an assessment model and a measure to tap basic family processes and risk among diverse ethnic groups. Six scales (Cohesion, Beliefs Ab out Family, Deviant Beliefs, Organization, Support, and Communication) produced a 3-dimension higher order factor model (Cohesion, Structure , and Beliefs). Tests support reliance on composite family scoring. Mo st scales and each higher order factor relate to depression, and aggre ssion. Relations vary little by age, ethnicity, marital status of pare nt, or family income. Implications for family assessment methodology a nd risk models are discussed.