The Spann–Fischer Codependency Scale is a 16-item self-report instrument that has been proposed as a measure of
co-dependency
In psychology, codependency is a theory that attempts to explain imbalanced relationships where one person enables another person's self-destructive behavior, such as addiction, poor mental health, immaturity, irresponsibility, or under-ach ...
. The scale is based upon a definition of codependency as "a dysfunctional pattern of relating to others with an extreme focus outside of oneself, lack of expression of feelings, and personal meaning derived from relationships with others."
Codependency has no established definition within the mental health community, and is not a recognized diagnosis as a mental health disorder.
Its creators are Judith L. Fischer and Lynda Spann, both from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public university, public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the flagship instit ...
.
Scoring
Individual items are rated on a 6-point
Likert scale
A Likert scale ( ,) is a psychometric scale named after its inventor, American social psychologist Rensis Likert, which is commonly used in research questionnaires. It is the most widely used approach to scaling responses in survey research, s ...
, and then summed with two reversed items to describe co-dependency on a scale from a high of 96 to a low of 16. Scores on the codependency scale distinguished known groups; furthermore, scores correlated as expected with intrapersonal measures as well as interpersonal perceptions of parenting in the family of origin.
The mean Spann–Fischer co-dependency score is approximated with a midpoint of 52.6, a "high" score of 67.2 and a "low" score of 37.3 suggested by Fischer, Spann, and Crawford (1991). No significant between-workshop differences were found for Spann–Fischer measures of co-dependency in the cases presented (F = .042, p = n.s.).
Validation
The scale was evaluated through a series of studies, utilizing the definition of co-dependency as a
dysfunctional
In psychology, abnormality (also dysfunctional behavior, maladaptive behavior, or deviant behavior) is a behavioral characteristic assigned to those with conditions that are regarded as dysfunctional. Behavior is considered to be abnormal when i ...
pattern of relating to others with "an extreme focus outside oneself, lack of open expression of feelings, and attempts to derive a sense of purpose
xclusivelythrough relationships" with others. The Spann–Fischer Scale is reported to have good test-retest reliability ( > .80), and acceptable internal consistency (.62 < < .92), across studies.
Spann–Fischer scores have been associated with membership in
Codependents Anonymous, gender, self-esteem,
locus of control
Locus of control is the degree to which people believe that they, as opposed to external forces (beyond their influence), have control over the outcome of events in their lives. The concept was developed by Julian B. Rotter in 1954, and has sinc ...
,
depression, relationship with parents, and anxiety;
narcissism, parental co-dependency, age, treatment outcomes and education, parenting style;
powerlessness in relationships; and risk-taking
- but not with parental chemical dependency; the number of family addictions, the severity of dysfunction in the family-of-origin, or
alcoholism
Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...
;
childhood trauma; or family cohesion and adaptability.
Notes
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External links
Spann-Fischer Codependency Scale
Mental disorders screening and assessment tools