Balanced Cohesion Research Articles

Measurement Equivalence Test on Family Cohesion Scale: Comparison Models for White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian College or University Students in the U.S.

Cohesion measure launched from the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES) is a well-known instrument to assess family functioning. It is essential to perform a measurement equivalence test of cohesion targeting racially diverse families. The web-based self-administered survey was performed and 291 college/university students’ responses in Ohio were collected (Whites = 37.5%, Hispanics = 23%, Asians = 23%, and Blacks = 16.5%). This study explicated measurement equivalence for family cohesion structure (balanced cohesion, disengagement, enmeshed). The multiple group analysis was performed to investigate whether parameters in the measurement models of the “cohesion sub-structures (balanced cohesion, disengagement, enmeshed; 7 items of each)” were equivalent across the four racial groups. While “balanced cohesion” and “disengagement” structures showed measurement invariance across the groups, the “enmeshed” structure showed significant measurement variance across the groups. Two-items, “Family members feel pressured to spend most free time together” and “We feel too connected to each other” were inadequate for Hispanics’ enmeshment. One-item, “Family members have little need for friends outside the family” was inadequate to explain enmeshment of Blacks and Asians. Professionals should be aware of possible misinterpretations of results from the cohesion measure of FACES IV when they particularly assess the enmeshment status of racially diverse families with closer attention to cross-cultural comparability.

Differences in family functioning before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational study in Peruvian families

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on family relationships, as several families have lost family members due to COVID-19 pandemic and become physically and emotionally estranged due to lockdown measures and critically economic periods. Our study contrasted two hypotheses: (1) family functioning changed notably before and after the COVID-19 pandemic initiation in terms of cohesion, flexibility, communication and satisfaction; (2) balanced families have a greater capacity to strictly comply with quarantine (i.e., social confinement), compared to unbalanced families. We performed an observational study comparing family functioning between two independent groups, evaluated before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru. A total of 7,980 participants were included in the study. For the first hypothesis, we found that, during the pandemic, families became more balanced in terms of cohesion (adjusted before-during mean difference or β1= 1.4; 95% CI [1.0–1.7]) and flexibility (β2= 2.0; 95% CI [1.6–2.4]), and families were less disengaged (β3= −1.9; 95% CI [−2.3 to −1.5]) and chaotic (β4= −2.9; 95% CI [−3.3 to −2.4]). Regarding the second hypothesis, we confirmed that families with balanced cohesion (adjusted prevalence ratio or aPR = 1.16; 95% CI [1.12–1.19) and flexibility (aPR = 1.23; 95% CI [1.18–1.27]) allowed greater compliance with quarantine restrictions; while disengaged (aPR = 0.91; 95% CI [0.88–0.93]) and chaotic families (aPR = 0.89; 95% CI [0.87–0.92]) were more likely to partially comply or not comply with the quarantine. Finally, family communication (aPR = 1.17; 95% CI [1.11–1.24]) and satisfaction (aPR = 1.18; 95% CI [1.11–1.25]) also played a role in favouring quarantine compliance. This new evidence enlightens the family systems theory while informing future interventions for improving compliance with quarantine measures in the context of social confinement.

RADF: Architecture decomposition for function as a service

AbstractAs the most successful realization of serverless, function as a service (FaaS) brings in a novel cloud computing paradigm that can save operating costs, reduce management effort, enable seamless scalability, and augment development productivity. Migration of an existing application to the serverless architecture is, however, an intricate task as a great number of decisions need to be made along the way. We propose in this paper RADF, a semi‐automatic approach that decomposes a monolith into serverless functions by analyzing the business logic inherent in the interface of the application. The proposed approach adopts a two‐stage refactoring strategy, where a coarse‐grained decomposition is performed at first, followed by a fine‐grained one. As such, the decomposition process is simplified into smaller steps and adaptable to generate a solution at either microservice or function level. We have implemented RADF in a holistic DevOps methodology and evaluated its capability for microservice identification and feasibility for code refactoring. In the evaluation experiments, RADF achieves lower coupling and relatively balanced cohesion, compared to previous decomposition approaches.

Influence of Family Functioning and Communication on Intimate Partner Violence in Female University Students who Migrated to Metropolitan Lima

Objective: To determine the influence of family functioning and family communication as predictors of intimate partner violence in female university students who migrated internally to Metropolitan Lima in Peru.
 
 Material And Methods: Cross-sectional and predictive study, developed in a sample of n=310 young women, with an average age of 21 years, selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES-IV), the Family Communication Scale (FCS) and the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST) were used. Descriptive and inferential analyses were estimated for the relationship of variables, Pearson's coefficient and multiple linear regression to determine the prediction of intimate partner violence using SPSS v. 26.
 
 Results: We found significant inverse relationships between intimate partner violence and family communication, balanced cohesion, balanced flexibility and rigid flexibility. While the chaotic flexibility scale was directly related to intimate partner violence. Likewise, family communication and family functioning predict 13.1% of intimate partner violence, and as family communication increases, intimate partner violence decreases (β= -0.10; 95%CI: -0.16 to -0.03).
 
 Conclusion: Coming from families with balanced cohesion, rigid, balanced flexibility decrease the risk of being victims of intimate partner violence and dysfunctional family communication increases intimate partner violence predicting 13.1% of intimate partner violence. Further studies could increase the sample of rural and urban areas to confirm the approximation we report.

The influence of family functioning on the severity of fear of cancer recurrence: A cross-sectional study in a sample of breast cancer survivors of Lebanese women.

To explore the links between family functioning-in terms of cohesion, flexibility, and communication-and the fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in a sample of breast cancer survivors of Lebanese women. This was a cross-sectional study among 62 Lebanese adult women (mean age: 51.0±8.29 years; years since diagnosis: 7.19±7.06) in remission, included via convenience and snowball sampling. A multicomponent questionnaire, encompassing socio-demographic and medical questions, the "Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale," the "Family communication scale," and the "Family satisfaction scale" (FACES IV) and the short version of the "Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory" (FCRI-SF), was used. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted. A p-value<0.01 was used to indicate statistical significance. On average, FCR was clinically non-significant (12.31±7.76). The sample had a low disengagement (20.01±4.83), very low enmeshment (19.68±4.57), very low rigid operation (21.7±4.26), very low chaotic functioning (16.43±4.48), high family communication level (38.78±7.96), connected balanced cohesion (28.18±5.47), very flexible balanced flexibility (26.81±4.56), and low level of family satisfaction (34.53±8.04). A very low chaotic functioning in the family (B=-11.37, Beta=-0.49, 99%CI=-19.54, -3.19), very high and low communication (B=-6.04, Beta=-0.33, 99%CI=-11.42, -0.67; B=-11.85, Beta=-0.46, 99%CI=-20.13, -3.58, respectively), very flexible balanced flexibility (B=-10.36, Beta=-0.67, 99%CI=-15.77, -4.94) and younger age (B=-0.31, Beta=-0.37, 99%CI=-0.59, -0.04) predicted a lower FCR score. Balanced flexibility and the quality of communication within the family were associated with a decreased FCR, while chaotic family functioning increased FCR severity. Cohesion, disengagement, enmeshment, and family satisfaction did not impact the severity of FCR.

Psychometric properties of the FACES IV package for Spanish adolescents

The family plays an essential role in the life of an adolescent. Hence, an acceptable understanding and an evaluation of family functioning is fundamental for effective interventions with adolescents in the psychological, social, and educational fields. The main purpose of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES IV), the Family Communication Scale (FCS), and the Family Satisfaction Scale (FSS), for assessing the family functioning of Spanish adolescents. The sample was comprised of 1187 adolescents between 14 -18 years old (49.96% boys and 50.04% girls; M = 16.17; SD = 1.31) from Castile and Leon (Spain), selected from 23 educational centers, 10 university degree courses, and 18 specific juvenile centers for adolescents with either family or behavioral problems. The scales of Balanced Cohesion, Balanced Flexibility and Disengaged showed good convergent validity, while Enmeshed, Rigid, and Chaotic did not. For this reason some items were removed, obtaining a shortened version of FACES IV, that demonstrated acceptable reliability, and good convergent and predictive validity. The FCS and FSS scales yielded excellent psychometric properties. The results confirmed the factorial structure of the FACES IV, its transcultural applicability, and its validity for different ages. The hypotheses of the circumplex model were confirmed, except for the dysfunctionality of two scales, Enmeshed and Rigid, that contrary to what was expected, showed positive correlations with Family Communication, Family Satisfaction, Balanced Cohesion, and Balanced Flexibility. In brief, our results present the FACES IV package as a useful instrument for the assessment of family functioning of Spanish adolescents. Future studies will be necessary to confirm the trend observed for the two aforementioned scales among adolescents.

PATTERNS OF FAMILY FUNCTIONING AS PREDICTORS OF PARENTING STYLE AMONG THE LEFT-BEHIND FAMILIES OF GULF MIGRANTS

Understanding the family functioning of left-behind families of gulf migrants and how they relate to parenting style is critically important to social workers worldwide. The study examined the associations between family functioning patterns and mothers parenting styles among the left-behind families of gulf migrants. The circumplex model of family functioning put forwarded by David H. Olson served as the study’s theoretical framework. Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES IV) (Olson, FACES IV and the Circumplex Model: Validation Study, 2011) was used for testing family functioning, and the Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire (Robinson, Mandleco, Olson, &amp; Hart, 2001) was used for testing the parenting style and its dimensions. The study’s main findings suggest that balanced cohesion and flexibility correlate with the authoritative parenting style. It also revealed that the authoritarian parenting style correlates negatively with all the functional family functioning patterns: balanced cohesion and flexibility. Authoritarian parenting style correlates positively with all the dysfunctional patterns of family functioning also. While, permissive parenting style correlates positively only with balanced cohesion, disengaged, enmeshed, family communication, and family satisfaction dimension of family functioning. This benchmark study offers family social work practitioners information to assist families and contribute to family social policies. KEYWORDS: family functioning, parenting style, left-behind families.

The Risk of Bullying and Probability of Help-Seeking Behaviors in School Children: A Bayesian Network Analysis.

An increase in aggressive behaviors in adolescents has been observed for a few years. The participation in bullying is associated with many psychosocial difficulties in adolescent development. On the other hand, the help-seeking behavior can be one of the most important protective factors that reduce the risk for this type of violence. The study was aimed at estimating the risk factors, as well as the protective factors of school bullying, by using the Bayesian networks to build a model allowing to estimate the probability of occurrence of the aggressive and help-seeking behaviors among school children. The focus was on individual risk/protective factors related to EAS temperament (emotionality, activity, and sociability) and variables related to the family context (level of cohesion, flexibility, family communication, and family life satisfaction). Bayesian methods have not been particularly mainstream in the social and medical sciences. The sample comprised 75 students (32 boys and 43 girls), aged 13–15 (M = 13.82; SD = 0.47). Assessment comprised The EAS Temperament Questionnaire, Family Adaptability & Cohesion Evaluation Scales FACES IV-SOR (Family Rating Scale), and Survey questionnaire. The Bayesian networks were applied. Depending on the values of the identified variables, very high a posteriori probability of bullying and help-seeking behaviors can be predicted. Four EAS subscales (Distress, Fear, Activity, Sociability) and two SOR subscales (Balanced Flexibility and Balanced Cohesion) were identified as predictors of bullying. Moreover, two SOR subscales (Family Communication and Life Family Satisfaction) and one EAS subscale (Sociability) were identified as predictors of help-seeking behaviors. The constructed network made it possible to show the influence of variables related to temperament and variables related to the family environment on the probability of bullying or the probability of seeking help and support. The Bayesian network model used in this study may be used in clinical practice.

FAMILY RELATIONS FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF FEMALE YOUTHS WITH SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Research on youth's suicidal behavior often focuses on individuals rather than families. This exploratory research is related to family relations in female youths with suicidal behavior. This study's respondents were ten suicidal female youths (aged 15 to 24) divided into two groups: ' attempt' and 'no-attempt'. The FACES IV, family communication scale, and family satisfaction scale were given at the beginning of the study, which was continued with in-depth interviews to explore the flexibility, cohesion, and communication of their family relations. In the attempt group, FACES IV resulted in low balanced cohesion (35.8 respectively), low balanced flexibility (41.2 respectively), and low family communication (15.4 respectively). Surprisingly, all participants of both groups rated their family satisfaction levels low, meaning that all participants were dissatisfied with the family functioning. The interview resulted in eight main themes: lack of emotional closeness, family conflict, sibling relationship, leadership in the family, obedience, autonomy, and control, and mendhem rasa (buried emotion, in Javanese culture), and weak communication skills. In conclusion, the family's hierarchical relationships, family conflict, and emotional distance become the risk factors for adolescent suicidal behavior. The perspectives found in this study with suicidal female youths suggest that family-based prevention and intervention of suicidal behavior in youths need to understand family cultural values while encouraging to build emotional closeness and communication skills in the family.

Double-edged cohesion: Multidimensional impacts of community governance’s cohesion in community-driven development

ABSTRACT While often pursued as a desirable state for a society or community, group cohesion can be a double-edged sword. When it comes to Community-Driven Development (CDD), in which community members are expected to collaborate to ensure their co-prosperity, group cohesion would be a matter of not only “WHETHER or not it is needed” but also “WHEN/WHERE/HOW MUCH it is needed”. This study examines a rural CDD case implemented by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Myanmar Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI). The analyses imply some common patterns of village cohesion for successful CDD performance: complementary communication roles shared by multiple leaders; the coexistence of physical and mental preparedness; balance between optimistic and realistic prospects; a long-term horizon for planning and implementation; introspective attribution of challenges; and constructive divergences and coordination in goal setting. We conclude with theoretical and practical conditions of multi-dimensionally balanced group cohesion in community development.

Family style and psychiatric acuity: family functioning assessment of an hospitalized population in a Emergency department

The study intends to include the evaluation of family styles while the patients are admitted at a hospital dedicated to the emergency (SPDC). The sample of the study involved patients of a SPDC and their families. The clinical assessment has been conducted through the use of ICD-IX, DSM-5 and BPRS. During the stabilization phase, both patients and families have been administered a socio-demographic report and the FACES IV. The FACES Questionnaire assesses the family through eight scales (two scales indicating health-oriented functioning: Balanced Cohesion, Balanced Flexibility; four scales indicating problematic functioning: Disengagement, Hyper-involvement, Rigidity, Disorganization; a scale for Family Communication; a scale for Family Satisfaction). 35,7% has shown to be health-oriented in the sample. Patients have shown a significantly higher problematic perception of their family, compared to their parents, being more involved in the relationship. The patients have a disengaged-disorganized family style, parents have an average-unbalanced style. The age of patients over 30 correlates significantly with a dysfunctional view of their family relationships. Faced with an event that requires hospitalization, families have a greater tendency toward dysfunctionality, with a more painful perception than their children, partially counterbalanced by a greater functionality of the parents. The temporal element, the age of the patients and the duration of the illness seem significant elements in favor of a greater family problematic.

Family functioning and psychological distress in a sample of mental health outpatients: Implications for routine examination and screening.

Clinical and research evidence suggests that family functioning is an important variable in shaping psychological well-being, despite being often overlooked in the prevailing approaches to mental health. The aim of the present study is to examine the associations between psychological distress and family functioning in a sample of patients accessing a public mental health service. CORE-OM and FACES IV questionnaires were administered to 112 patients, and all the correlations between the scales and subscales were calculated. Descriptive statistics concerning family typologies and satisfaction with family communication or relationships were also evaluated. The results showed significant associations between family functioning and psychological well-being. Positive aspects of family functioning, such as balanced cohesion and flexibility, were associated with lower distress, while negative aspects such as disengagement were associated with poorer mental health. According to the Circumplex model, most of the families were described as balanced in their functioning; however, the communication and family satisfaction scores revealed that many patients had concerns about their family relationships. This study confirms that family functioning is significantly associated with psychological distress, also in the absence of clear and conspicuous signs of structural imbalances within family relationships.

Depressive symptoms and glycaemic control in adults with type 1 diabetes: an exploratory study on the role of family functioning.

Psychological distress and family functioning have a considerable impact on diabetes self-management and glycaemic control in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the influence of both individual and family factors on glycaemic control has not been adequately investigated yet. This study aimed at examining the relationship between perceived family functioning and depressive symptoms with the frequency of capillary self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and glycaemic control (HbA1c) in a large sample of adults with T1D. In a cross-sectional study design, we consecutively enrolled 90 adults with T1D diagnosis from at least 1year and currently living in their family of origin or conjugal family from at least 1year before the enrolment. Questionnaires were administered to assess family functioning and depressive symptoms. The SMBG frequency over the past 3months and the most recent HbA1c measurement were also collected in each individual. Correlation and mediation analyses were carried out. Glycaemic control showed a positive relationship with depressive symptoms and family balanced cohesion, while SMBG frequency was correlated with family balanced flexibility and rigidity, but not with depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses showed that family rigidity mediates the effect of depressive symptoms on glycaemic control. This exploratory study highlighted the significance of a cohesive family context to facilitate the achievement of individual glycaemic goals in individuals with T1D. These observations, if confirmed in larger data sets, would timely call for a comprehensive family care assessment as part of the evaluations routinely carried out in the ambulatory care of these individuals.

Kvalitet porodičnih odnosa i samoefikasnost dece osnovnoškolskog uzrasta

The family is the basic unit of the society, which has an impact on all domains of children's development and functioning. Bearing in mind the significance of the family for the development of the child, this research pays attention to family factors that can affect the self-efficacy of elementary school children. The aim of this research was to examine the relationship between the quality of family relationships and the self-efficacy of children of elementary school age. The research involved 40 primary school pupils, ages 14 , (20 boys, 20 girls). The used instruments were FACE-IV and SEQ-C. The results showed that the subcategories of family cohesiveness and adaptability do not represent a statistically significant predictor of self-efficacy among children. Also, it has been confirmed that there is no statistically significant positive correlation between the degree of self-efficacy and the sub-scales of self-efficacy with balanced cohesion, balanced flexibility and networking. Finally, the research did not confirm the existence of a statistically significant negative correlation between the degree of self-efficacy and the sub-scale of self-efficacy with dissociation, rigidity and chaotic relations on the sample of primary school children. The obtained findings are explained in accordance with relevant empirical research. It is recommended that the relationships between these variables should be examined on larger sample, including other factors that influence the self-efficacy of elementary school children.

The estimation of the functioning of families with ASD children.

BackgroundAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disease described as a neurodevelopmental disorder as the impairment of social and communication functions. Life of the people with ASD depends on the early introduction of intensive therapeutic programmes, modifying the undesirable behaviours, and aimed at teaching social and communication skills.AimsThe goal of the present work is to estimation the functioning of families with an ASD child and compare it to the functioning of families with children not diagnosed with ASD.MethodsThe study was performed using Flexibility and Cohesion Evaluation Scales. The study included 70 parents of ASD children, and 70 parents with children without diagnosed ASD, as the control group.ResultsThe parents of children with autism achieve lower results in the Balanced Cohesion sub-scale than the control group. Also, the parents of ASD children obtained higher scores in the Disengaged sub-scale than the control group.ConclusionsThe results of this papers can suggesting the risk of the appearance of a disturbed family system, functioning in families with children with ASD, which should be a trigger for providing these families with early family functioning diagnosis and consequent support and therapy.

FAMILY FUNCTIONING AND SELF-SILENCING OF STUDENTS

Starting from the main hypothesis of the Circumplex Model that the balanced levels of cohesion and flexibility are the most appropriate for family functioning, and that unbalanced levels of cohesion and flexibility are related to problematic family functioning, in this paper we wanted to investigate in what way these dimensions of family functioning are related to self-silencing. In this model, cohesion is defined as an emotional relationship between family members, and flexibility is defined as a quality and expression of leadership and organization. Self-silencing is related to the cognitive schema of creating and maintaining intimate relations in a way that a person is passive, that he/she suppresses his/her feelings, opinion and actions in order to satisfy the needs of people close to them.The research was conducted on a sample of 250 Serbian and Macedonian students. The following instruments were used in this research: Silencing the Self Scale and FACES IV, which consists of three scales that measure Cohesion (Disengaged, Balanced Cohesion and Enmeshed), three scales that measure Flexibility (Rigid, Balanced Flexibility and Chaotic), Scale for the Assessment of Family Communication, which is defined as the skill of positive communication and it is considered to be a mitigating dimension and it helps families change their levels of cohesion and flexibility, and the Scale for the Assessment of Family Satisfaction.Self-silencing is in a positive correlation with unbalanced levels of cohesion, with disengaged family relations (r=.195, p=.002) and with enmeshed (entangled) family relations (r=.332, p=.000). Self-silencing is in a positive correlation with Unbalanced levels of flexibility, with rigid (r=.243, p=.000) and chaotic family relations (r=.217, p=.001).Balanced Cohesion, as the indicator of healthy family functioning, is related to a lower level of self-silencing of family members, that is, in such families the members can openly speak about their needs, feelings and opinions without fear that it would jeopardize the needs of other family members. The members of families with a very low or very high cohesion and flexibility conceal their needs and desires in order to satisfy the needs of other members.

Family Functioning and Its Relation to Parental Discipline

The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales (FACES) are one of the most used instruments in the study of family relations, assessing relevant dimensions of family functioning. This study aims to examine the relationship between cohesion, communication and family satisfaction, measured by FACES IV, and the dimensions of discipline inventory (DDI). The sample consisted of 380 subjects (190 adolescents and 190 parents). Fathers are the main users of physical discipline and boys are the main targets of most discipline practices. Regarding the association of the DDI and FACES, families with a balanced cohesion use less punitive discipline, families with enmeshed cohesion and families with disengaged cohesion have higher and less use of the analyzed disciplinary practices respectively. Considering the results, it may be useful to work together with families to promote the use of positive disciplinary methods and work their communication skills in order to improve cohesion and consequently family satisfaction.

Academic Self-Efficacy, School Engagement and Family Functioning, Among Postsecondary Students in the Caribbean

A neglected area of study in adolescent development is family functioning in relation to adolescents’ sense of self and academic success. This study investigates students’ perceptions of their levels of family functioning (cohesiveness and adaptability) as it relates to their academic self-efficacy and school engagement, and answers the following questions: (1) Are there any significant differences in the academic self-efficacy beliefs and school engagement of Caribbean adolescents based on levels of family cohesion and family adaptability? (2) To what extent does the combination of family cohesion and family adaptability predict the academic self-efficacy and school engagement of Caribbean adolescents? Data were collected from a sample of 523 adolescents (197 males and 326 females) aged 17–19 years, enroled in postsecondary institutions in two Anglophone Caribbean countries (Barbados and St. Lucia). Results indicated that adolescents from families with balanced cohesion held significantly higher academic self-efficacy beliefs and school engagement levels than those from families with low cohesion. Regression analyses indicated that the family functioning model significantly predicted academic self-efficacy and school engagement. Interpretation of these results are discussed.

Metropolitan integration in Poland: the case of Poznań Metropolis

ABSTRACTThe political and socio-economic transition in Poland brought many spatial problems, including dynamic processes of suburbanization around the bigger cities, which require metropolitan-wide approach. But the national metropolitan reform process is still in an initial stage, and the only form of integrated governance in urban areas is provided by some bottom-up initiatives based on the cooperation of local governments. While the experience of ‘top-down’ approach to metropolitan region building in Poland is too short and incomplete in context of its impact on territorial polarization at the national level, the ‘bottom-up’ initiatives of local governments for metropolitan integration are key instruments to more balanced development and territorial cohesion within the metropolitan areas. In terms of metropolitan integration, the case study – Poznań Metropolis – is one of the most interesting examples for an evolutionary way from informal to legally binding institutional arrangements of urban–suburban cooperation.

FAMILY FUNCTIONING OF PEOPLE WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY

ABSTRACT Spinal cord injury results in sensory and motor limitations and makes people dependent on their families, interfering with their autonomy and independence. This was a cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted to identify cohesion, adaptability, flexibility and family functioning of people with spinal cord injury in three cities of Florianópolis, using the family APGAR and Olson scales. The sample consisted of 45 people belonging to the age group of 14-82 years, 64.5% male and 35.5% female; 67.7% with female caregivers and, of these, 32.2% were mothers. Despite the difficulties encountered with the injury, most families showed good functioning (61.4%) with 16.1% to 22.5% severe and mild dysfunction, with balanced cohesion and flexibility, which were not related to the presence of low satisfaction and communication. The selected tools, applied together, proved suitable.