Family Problem Solving: Measuring the Elusive Concept

Abstract

Reliable and valid approaches for measuring family-level problem solving are necessary if nurse clinicians and researchers are to identify and describe problem solving in both healthy and ill families and monitor the effects of nursing interventions on changes in family functioning. Whereas family problem solving is frequently mentioned in the literature, there is little consensus on how to operationalize this family-level variable. The focus of this review is to explore measurement of family problem solving from a practice and research perspective. Thirteen published measures of family problem solving are critiqued, and 8 criteria for choosing and using measures of family problem solving are identified. The intent of this overview is to provide clinicians with a synopsis of the state of the science on measuring this frequently neglected family functioning variable.