Development and Psychometric Properties of the Family Loyalty Questionnaire: Family Loyalty, Identity and Attachment in Young Adults (FLQ-15)

Aleksandra Lewandowska-Walter; Nikoleta Jarlińska; Joanna Różycka-Tran; Paweł Jurek

doi:10.18290/rpsych2025.0014

Published : 2026-05-18

Vol. 28 No. 3 (2025)

Development and Psychometric Properties of the Family Loyalty Questionnaire: Family Loyalty, Identity and Attachment in Young Adults (FLQ-15)

Aleksandra Lewandowska-Walter

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9806-6339

Nikoleta Jarlińska

https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7596-4177

Joanna Różycka-Tran

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1131-3910

Paweł Jurek

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9958-3941

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/rpsych2025.0014

Abstract

The present article reports the development, validation, and introduction of the Family Loyalty Questionnaire (FLQ-15), a culturally grounded instrument designed to assess the multidimensional construct of family loyalty among emerging and established adults in Poland. Drawing on family systems theory and the construct of filial piety, the FLQ-15 captures three dimensions of family loyalty: Family Bond, Family Dependence, and Family Obligations. Two independent studies (N = 310 and N = 304) were conducted to examine the factorial structure, reliability, and validity of the instrument. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed a robust three-factor model with satisfactory internal consistency. The results support the multidimensional nature of family loyalty and its relevance for understanding the balance between relational obligations and individual autonomy during emerging adulthood. Results underscore both the adaptive (e.g., identity integration, emotional closeness) and maladaptive (e.g., autonomy suppression, dependency) roles of family loyalty during emerging and established adulthood. The FLQ-15 offers a reliable means of examining the psychological implications of intergenerational bonds and obligations, with practical applications in developmental research and therapeutic contexts.

Keywords:

family loyalty, familism, identity, attachment styles, measurement, emerging and established adulthood

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