The Future Relationships Scale: Measurement of student perceptions of what makes an adult intimate relationship successful

Abstract

This paper briefly outlines the procedures that were undertaken in the development of the Future Relationships Scale (FRS) and discusses its possible application potential. An analysis of the existing literature on Family and Relationship therapy and established diagnostic measurement scales in the area, failed to locate an instrument that could aid in the measuring of perceptions of adolescents of the components that help to make an adult intimate relationship functional. This area was seen by the authors to be important particularly in the light of the development of school based Human Relationships Education. As a result a questionnaire was devised and administered to Year 12 students across three State high schools in Central Queensland. The questionnaire comprised 5 main parts. Part 1 obtained data on a number of independent variables. Part 2 was designed as an open-ended statement that sought Year 12 students' opinions about the components of functional relationships. Part 3 was the Future Relationships Scale. Parts 4 and 5 contained established scales that provided further information on independent variables and validation for the Future Relationships Scale. Analyses of the data indicated that the FRS is worthy of further development, and that Future Relationships was related to the sex and academic aspirations of the student, Personal Beliefs, and Family Assessment. The FRS would appear to be a potentially viable instrument for use in educational guidance and counselling.