An examination of the factor structure of the family environment scale

The present study examines the underlying factor structure of a widely used family assessment tool, the Family Environment Scale. In a factor analysis of data from college students and employees of a New England university (n = 828), the presence of 10 unique clusters representing the 10 subscales of the FES was not confirmed. This is the second factor analysis that failed to support empirically the existence of the 10 subscales. Concerns regarding the continued use of the FES to tap independent dimensions of the family environment by family researchers and clinicians are discussed.