The measurement of family relationships: Individual, dyadic, and family dimensions of relational construct and their implication for family members

Companionship is a fundamental features of close relationships, but in literature it has been investigated exclusively as an individual construct. In studying how family relationships influence family members’ adjustment, few studies take into account the outcomes of different family members. The first aims is to test three different measurement models to point out the individual, dyadic and family dimensions of companionship. The second aim is to test if companionship as multidimensional construct affects depression of all family members. The statistical analyses used take into account the interdependence of the different authors’ points of view. Participants are 107 family triads who were asked to fill out a questionnaire containing a scale for companionship and one for depression. Results reveal that the best measurement model for companionship is the family model. The family dimension, however, formed the dyadic dimensions. Family companionship influences the depression of all the family members involved.