Family Cohesion And Control: A Multitrait-Multimethod Study*

This study assessed the convergent and discriminant validity of widely used various measures of family cohension and control using a multitrait, multi-method approach. Forty-two families, who had at least one adolescent and who were currently receiving family therapy, completed self-report measures of cohesion and control and engaged in Reiss' Card Sort Procedure. Ratings of the families' cohesiveness were also obtained from the families and their therapists. We were only partially successful in demonstrating convergent validity and discriminant validity for the family trait of cohesiveness across measures and methods, and even less so for family control. There was a general lack of relationship between self-report measures and either the therapist rating of family cohesion or the family's performance on the Card Sort Procedure. Our results cast doubt on the construct validity of some of the best measures of family functioning currently available. Implications of this are discussed.