A Systematic Review of Standardized Assessments of Couple and Family Constructs in GLBT Populations

The purpose of this study is to aid practitioners and researchers in identifying standardized couple and family measures appropriate for use with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans (GLBT) populations. We conducted a systematic review of the literature and identified and evaluated 32 assessments in seven categories: abuse and conflict, couple’s relationship, sex, experiences of affiliates of GLBT family members, family functioning, parenting, and attitudes toward GLBT families. About half of the measures reviewed had adequate reliability and validity evidence and were recommended for use. Although none were normed using random sampling techniques, several included national samples increasing the likelihood of generalizability to the target population. The categories of abuse and conflict and family functioning were the least developed, and normative data for trans families were lacking across all categories. We conclude with recommendations for future research.