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Reactivity in Family Communication
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About Reactivity in Family Communication
Scale Name
Reactivity in Family Communication
Author Details
Multisite Violence Prevention Project (MVPP) (2004b), adapted from David B. Henry, Felton Chertok, Christopher Keys, and James Jegerski (1991)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Reactivity in Family Communication scale, developed by the Multisite Violence Prevention Project (MVPP) in 2004 and adapted from Henry, Chertok, Keys, and Jegerski (1991), is a dual-report questionnaire designed to measure the extent to which parents and children perceive that emotional states experienced by one family member spread easily to others. Targeting middle school students in grades 6-8 (ages 11-14) and their parents in urban settings, the scale was part of the MVPP’s efforts to assess family dynamics related to violence prevention. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005) and referenced in MVPP (2004), it aligns with family systems theory and emotional contagion frameworks, examining how emotional reactivity influences youth behavior and family functioning.
The scale comprises 5 items per version (youth and parent), rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = “never” to 5 = “always”). Examples include “When one family member is upset, others get upset too” (youth version) or “My emotions affect other family members” (parent version). Scores are summed (range: 5-25), with higher scores indicating greater emotional reactivity. Validated in urban samples, it is used to assess family emotional dynamics, predict conflict risks, and inform family-based interventions.
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals use the scale to study emotional contagion, evaluate intervention outcomes, and design programs to reduce family conflict. Its dual-report format is a strength, but moderate internal consistency and English-only availability limit its reliability and cross-cultural use.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths or MVPP publications, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses how emotions spread within the family to support healthy dynamics, emphasizing anonymity and using age-appropriate, non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking youth and parents to rate the frequency of emotional reactivity in family interactions over the past month, using the 5-point scale. Administer both versions separately to capture perspectives.
- Approximate time for completion is 2-3 minutes per respondent, given the 5-item format.
- Administer in a school, home, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration may be used for younger respondents or those with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Reactivity in Family Communication scale has moderate psychometric properties, as reported in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is acceptable but low, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.58 for youth and 0.66 for parents, indicating limited item cohesion, likely due to the small number of items. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate based on similar family measures (r ≈ 0.50-0.70 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as family conflict (r ≈ 0.20-0.40) and youth emotional distress (r ≈ 0.15-0.35). Discriminant validity is inferred from weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its use in predicting family-related risk factors in MVPP studies. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s unidimensional focus supports construct validity. The moderate reliability suggests cautious use, ideally paired with validated measures like the Family Environment Scale (Moos & Moos, 1981).
Available Versions
03-Items
Reference
Project, M. V. P. (2004). The multisite violence prevention project: background and overview. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 26(1), 3-11.
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Reactivity in Family Communication scale measure?
It measures perceptions of how emotions spread among family members, as reported by youth and parents.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals studying middle school students and parents.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 2-3 minutes per respondent.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets grades 6-8 students and their parents in urban settings.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, but moderate reliability (α = 0.58-0.66) suggests use with validated measures.
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