Exploring the Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Affan Oromo Version Family Assessment Device (FAD) in Ethiopia

Abstract

While family functioning is a critical factor for family health, child socialization, and education at large, psychometrically sound assessment instruments that assist in diagnosing family environments are not available in the Ethiopian context. However, in the last couple of decades adaptations of Family Assessment Device (FAD) to several eco-cultural contexts have shown an increased interest with promising results that this device is powered with the capacity for wider international acceptability. The purpose of the current study was to examine if FAD could hold such promises in societies like Ethiopia. It attempted to explore the factor structure and psychometric properties of short-version FAD in Affan Oromo language using a sample of 223 (Female =119; Male =104) adolescent children (aged 14 to 20 years; mean 17.39) and their families (aged 42 to 58 years; mean 47.53 years) from Ambo area of Oromia. Exploratory factor analysis with direct Oblimin rotation and Principal component analysis was employed to analyze data. Exploratory factor analysis results confirmed six factors that measure Problem Solving Communication, General Functioning, Roles, Affective Responsiveness, Behavioural Control, and Affective Involvement with a factor loading ranging from 0.466 to 0.888. The factor structures were also very similar for male and female samples. Furthermore, the result depicted that all the extracted components of the Affan Oromo version FAD maintained adequate internal consistency (Cronbach alpha r_alpha coefficient ranging from 0.778 to 0.896) and (split half-reliability r_tt - assorting from 0.766 to 0.867). The results of the construct validity measured by the Brief Family Relationship Scale, also recorded statistically significant and positive correlation with FAD, suggesting that the Affan Oromo Version of FAD had adequately convergent validity. Empirical evidence done through stepwise regression analysis confirmed that FAD had adequate criterion validity. This result supports the use of the short version of the FAD (35-items) to assess the overall family functioning among the Oromo communities.