The Family Stress and Coping Interview for families of individuals with developmental disabilities: a lifespan perspective on family adjustment

Background The present study investigated the psychometric properties of the Family Stress and Coping Interview (FSCI), a questionnaire designed to quantitatively and qualitatively examine the experiences of parents of children with developmental disabilities (DDs). Methods The participants consisted of 106 primary caregivers of 106 individuals with DDs from centres in Eastern, Central and North-western Ontario, Canada. The participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the FSCI, and the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales. Results The results of this study indicate that the FSCI has adequate reliability (i.e. internal consistency and long-term stability) and validity (i.e. independent item ratings and discriminant validity). Conclusions The results of this study support the use of the FSCI as a measure of family stress in research and practice.