Rethinking the Self-Report Family Inventory-Version II (SFI-II): Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Portuguese Version

This study addresses the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Self-Report Family Inventory-Version II (SFI-II) for a Portuguese sample. Based on the Beavers Systems Model, the SFI-II is a brief screening instrument, with 36 items that measure family competence, family style and other related domains. The SFI-II and several criterion scales were administered to a heterogeneous sample of 1083 individuals with ages ranging from 12 to 83 years old. In contrast with the original five-factor structure, but aligned with more recent findings, factor analysis showed that two factors could be meaningfully extracted. Additionally, analyses suggest that the SFI-II is a valid and reliable measure of family functioning. The authors propose a critical reading of the scale’s bifactorial structure and its connection with the underlying theoretical model. The SFI-II appears to be a promising measure of family competence, with clinical and research applicability.