Family Systems Stressor - Strength Inventory (FS3I) Assessment Paper Example

Family Assessment Paper
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Family Assessment Paper
An introduction of the family
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Durkin comprises Dan Durkin who is the father, Mrs. Diane Durkin who is the mother and wife to Dan Durkin, and their 4 children – 1 boy and 3 girls. Their eldest child Marvin is 21-years-old and is in his second year at the university studying criminology, works part-time as a security guard and still lives with his parents. Marilyn is 17 and is in college pursuing a diploma in nutrition. Chelsea is 14 and in high school, while Nancy is 12-years-old. Mrs. Diane Durkin is a registered nurse at a local community hospital while Mr. Dan Durkin is a police officer and is somewhat obese.
Family assessment using the Family System Stressor-Strength Inventory (FS3I)
The FS3I is essentially a measurement/assessment tool that is designed for usage with families. It is focused on recognizing stressful situations that occur in families as well as the strengths used by families in maintaining family situations (Mischke & Hanson, 2009). I applied the FS3I to the family I know – the Durkin family. Prior to the interview with me, every member of the family was asked to fill out the instrument on an individual form. After the instrument had been completed, I assessed the family on all the stressful situations – specific and general – as well as the available strengths which they have. This assessment was recorded on the family member form.
The assessment comprised 3 parts and three different forms were completed by each of the family members. In Part One: Family Systems Stressors (General), the family members were evaluated on 25 stressful situations. All the 25 stressors/situations deal with some facet of usual family life and each of them can create stress between families and the world wherein they reside, or within families. As the clinician, I informed the family members that I am interested in their overall impression of how these 25 stressors/situations affect their family life. The family member circled a number from 0 to 5 which describes best the level of tension or stress they create for the member. The family perception scores on the 25 stressors are illustrated in table 1 below:
Family perception scoreNot applicableLittle stressMedium stressHigh stress012345
Table 1: Part 1, Family System Stressors – General
Family member’s perception scoreClinician’s perceptionStressor/situationMr. DurkinMrs. DurkinMarvinMarilynChelseaNancyScore1Family member feels guilt for not achieving more3 1200022Feels unappreciated32344033Self-esteem, self-image, and feelings of unattractiveness13154244Inadequate me time12244135Moving00000006Communication with children33000037Television44232238Dieting53354149Inadequate couple time340000310Health/illness5424213...