The Family Assesment Device (FAD) is an instrument to measure the structural, organizational, and transactional characteristics of families (section: children & adolescents). It is based on the McMaster Model of Family Functioning (MMFF). The full FAD consists of 60 items distributed over 6 dimensions of family functioning:
plus a 7th scale to measure general family functioning. In Lifelines, only the 7th general functioning scale was implemented in the 1A and 2A Child Questionnaire.
Note that Lifelines also assessed rearing style with the EMBU questionnaire.
Parents of underage participants were asked to think of their own family when answering these questions:
| Label English | Label Dutch | Code | Variable | Assessment | Age |
| Making plans to go and do something with the family is difficult because we always misunderstand each other | Plannen maken om iets met het gezin te gaan doen is moeilijk omdat we elkaar verkeerd begrijpen | fad_plans_chi_q_01_a | CHFAD1A | 1A 2A | 4-17 |
| In times of difficulty, we can count on each other's support | Wanneer er moeilijkheden zijn kunnen we op elkaars steun rekenen | fad_support_chi_q_01_b | CHFAD1B | 1A 2A 3A | 4-17 |
| We cannot talk to each other about our grief | We kunnen niet met elkaar praten over het verdriet dat we voelen | fad_grief_chi_q_01_c | CHFAD1C | 1A 2A 3A | 4-17 |
| Others are accepted as they are | Anderen worden geaccepteerd zoals zij zijn | fad_acceptothers_chi_q_01_d | CHFAD1D | 1A 2A 3A | 4-17 |
| We avoid talking about or fears and concerns | We vermijden het om over onze angsten en zorgen te praten | fad_concerns_chi_q_01_e | CHFAD1E | 1A 2A 3A | 4-17 |
| We can express our feelings to each other | Wij kunnen gevoelens naar elkaar toe uiten | fad_feelings_chi_q_01_f | CHFAD1F | 1A 2A 3A | 4-17 |
| There are many unpleasant, painful feelings in the family | Er zijn heel wat nare, pijnlijke gevoelens in het gezin | fad_painful_chi_q_01_g | CHFAD1G | 1A 2A 3A | 4-17 |
| We feel accepted for who we are | We voelen ons geaccepteerd zoals we zijn | fad_acceptance_chi_q_01_h | CHFAD1H | 1A 2A 3A | 4-17 |
| Making decisions is difficult in our family | Beslissen is een probleem in ons gezin | fad_decisions_chi_q_01_i | CHFAD1I | 1A | 4-17 |
| making decisions is difficult for our family (think of your own family) | beslissen is een probleem voor ons gezin (neem uw eigen gezin nu in gedachten) | fad_decisions_chi_q_02_i | CHFAD1Ia | 2A 3A | 4-17 |
| We can reach decisions on how to solve problems | We kunnen beslissingen nemen over hoe we problemen moeten oplossen | fad_solveproblems_chi_q_01_j | CHFAD1J | 1A 2A 3A | 4-17 |
| We do not get along | We kunnen niet goed met elkaar opschieten | fad_getalong_chi_q_01_k | CHFAD1K | 1A 2A 3A | 4-17 |
| We trust each other | We vertrouwen op elkaar | fad_trust_chi_q_01_l | CHFAD1L | 1A 2A 3A | 4-17 |