Adolescent-Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes (A-FILE)

Abstract

A-FILE is a self-administered 50-item instrument designed to measure: recent family-adolescent-youth life events and changes; chronic stressors and strains; the family's and youth's vulnerability; and cumulative life events. High school age adolescents (ages 12-18), living with their families or not, record life events and changes experienced by any of the members of the family unit during the preceding year and, for a 27-item subset, life events and changes prior to the 12-month period. Six conceptual dimensions comprise A-FILE: Transitions; Sexuality; Losses; Responsibilities and Strains; Substance Use; and Legal Conflict. Items are rated as "yes" or "no" and scored by summing either the total number of "yes" responses or their weighted scores.