Family cohesion and conflict in an American Indian community.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of using a portion of the Family Environment Scale (FES) with American Indian families and to describe the mean family profile exhibited by one Native community. METHODS: The cohesion, expressiveness, conflict and active-recreational orientation subscales of the FES were administered to 130 adults, representing 65 families. RESULTS: Mean responses reveal a pattern of average levels of cohesion and expressiveness, concurrent with high levels of family conflict. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes illustrate the feasibility and utility of this scale in assessing and guiding health promotion services within Native communities. Results suggest Native families have a distinctive family profile.