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Relationship with Family of Origin Scale (REFAMOS)

Interrater reliability and associations with childhood experiences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Jonathan Hill ,
Erica Mackie ,
Linda Banner ,
Helena Kondryn  and
Val Blair
Jonathan Hill*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Liverpool
Erica Mackie
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, Southampton General Hospital
Linda Banner
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool
Helena Kondryn
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, University of Manchester
Val Blair
Affiliation:
CRC Paediatric and Familial Cancer Research Group, Manchester
*
Professor Jonathan Hill, Alder Hey Hospital, Eaton Road, Liverpool LI2 2AP
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Abstract

Background

Family relationships in the transition from childhood to adult life may be important mediators of risk and resilience for adult psychopathology.

Aims

To develop a reliable and valid measure of the quality of relationships with each parent in young adults.

Method

Interrater reliability of the Relationship with Family of Origin Scale (REFAMOS) was assessed from audio-taped 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, and κ values 0.80–0.82. Indices of current closeness to mothers were negatively correlated with age of subject and positively correlated with recalled maternal care in childhood. Negative qualities in current relationships were correlated with recalled overprotection.

Conclusions

The REFAMOS has good interrater reliability, and shows the predicted age-related trends in scores and associations with recalled childhood relationships.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 175 , Issue 6 , December 1999 , pp. 565 - 570
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

Declaration of interest

The Manchester Children's Tumour Registry is funded by the Cancer Research Campaign, H. K. was funded by the Cancer Research Campaign, and L. B. by the Friends of Rosie Children's Cancer Research Fund.

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