Family Expressiveness Questionnaire

Family Expressiveness Questionnaire is a 13-item revision of the original 40-item measure developed by Halberstadt (1986). This parent report measure assesses the frequency and nature of family communication of both positive and negative emotional states.

Abstract: The Family Expressiveness Questionnaire is a 13-item revision of the original 40-item questionnaire developed by Halberstadt (1986). Halberstadt's questionnaire contains four subscales: positive-dominant (PD), positive-nondominant (PS), nonpositive-dominant (ND), and nonpositive-nondominant (NS). Greenberg et al. (1995) revised the scale to include ten of Halberstadt's original items and three new items. Analysis of responses on the 13-item questionnaire supported two subscales - Positive Expression and Negative Expression (Lengua 1995). Each questionnaire item asks how often a particular scenario of emotional expression occurs in the respondent's family. Six of the items describe negative scenarios, e.g., "How often does someone in your family try to cheer up another family member who is sad?" and seven items express positive scenarios, e.g., "How often does someone in your family praise someone in the family for good work?" Responses are coded on a four-point scale and include: "Never happens (0)," "Sometimes happens (1)," "Happens a lot (2)," and "Happens all the time (3)." This measure contains two subscales: Positive and Negative Expression. Each subscale score is calculated as the mean of responses on subscale items. T-test results do not show a significant difference in the response means of the normative and high-risk groups on the Negative Expression subscale. Consequently, researchers should be aware that the Negative Expression subscale may not differentiate between samples identified using a similar diagnostic construct. In addition, positive correlation between the Negative Expression and Positive Expression subscales (0.599, p<.0001) suggests that the Family Expressiveness Questionnaire more likely assesses expressivity, and not positive and negative feelings.

Who Completed this Measure?: Parent

Cohort 1 - Administrative History

• Year 01 | K | age 6
• Year 02 | grade 1 | age 7

Cohort 2 - Administrative History

• Year 02 | grade 1 | age 7

Technical Reports:

• Year 1
• Year 2

Raw Dataset Name: PyG

Scored Dataset Name: FEQySPc

Keywords:
Emotionality, Expressiveness, Family Relations, Interpersonal Interactions

Is this Measure Available for Public Use?: No

Obtain Measure:

Amy G. Halberstadt, Prof.
Department of Psychology
Poe Hall 755, Box 7650
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7650
Tel: 919-515-1730
Email: amy_halberstadt@ncsu.edu