Family functioning in Lebanon : a circumplex model approach

Abstract

Background: Family functioning in different cultures is a topic of considerable interest to family therapists and researchers. Few studies investigate the cultural patterns of family relations in Lebanon, and even fewer use the tools built particularly to assess family functioning. The Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems is a prominent theoretical framework globally recognized for examining the structural dynamics of family functioning from a cross-cultural standpoint. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale IV (FACES IV) was developed in synchrony with the dimensions of the Circumplex Model and has been commonly used to assess family functioning and to implement family therapeutic interventions (Olson, 2000). Objectives: The aims are twofold: (i) Exploring the cultural expression of the family functioning dimension, cohesion, within Lebanese families (ii) Investigating the cross-cultural validity of major hypotheses of the Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems among Lebanese Millennials. Method: The target population for this study is labelled as “Lebanese Millennials” between the ages of 24 and 44 years old who were recruited from the general population of Lebanon. The sampling used for this study was convenience and snowball sampling. Descriptive statistics were used to identify patterns and variations across demographic groups, and circumplex ratio scores assessed cohesion, flexibility, communication, and satisfaction levels within family units. Moreover, confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the construct validity of FACES IV, which will determine if the tool items are measuring the same underlying factors in Lebanon as they do in Western cultures. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for the analyses in addition to AMOS for the CFA. Significance: This thesis aims to address the gap in the literature on family functioning in Lebanon by introducing the Circumplex Model. The goal is to initiate a conversation that fosters further research and the development of culturally sensitive interventions to improve family functioning in Lebanon.