Psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the medical outcomes study family and marital functioning measures in Hong Kong Chinese childbearing families

Community Ment Health J. 2012 Oct;48(5):634-42. doi: 10.1007/s10597-011-9450-5. Epub 2011 Oct 18.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Medical Outcomes Study Family and Marital Functioning Measures (C-MOS-FMFM) in Hong Kong Chinese childbearing families. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience sample of 128 childbearing couples recruited from antenatal clinics. The C-MOS-FMFM demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.79) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.74). Significant correlations with Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey (r = 0.38, P < 0.01) and Trait Anxiety Inventory (r = -0.48, P < 0.01) supported construct validity. Factor analysis identified one factor corresponding to family functioning and two factors corresponding to marital functioning. The C-MOS-FMFM has satisfactory psychometric properties. It has the potential to be used as a clinical and research instrument for measuring family and marital functioning in the Chinese population.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Asian People / psychology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Family Relations / ethnology*
  • Female
  • Hong Kong
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marriage / ethnology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Parenting / psychology
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Social Support*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Young Adult