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Family functioning score of families with children aged 0-12 years, NSW, 2001 (median response of parents or carers)

		%
Overall	Overall	94.80
Sex	Female	94.4
	Male	95.1
Remoteness	Urban	94.8
	Rural	94.9
Socioeconomic status	1st quintile (least disadvantaged)	93.9
	2nd quintile	96.5
	3rd quintile	95.7
	4th quintile	94.1
	5th quintile (most disadvantaged)	94.7
Age Group	0-8 years	95.7
	9-15 years	93.9
Mother's education level	Less than tertiary	94.3
	Tertiary	96.0

Notes: Table based on 5,683 responses. The score was based on 14 questions from the McMasters Family Assessment Device. This assessment tool generates a score between one and four, with one reflecting healthy family functioning and four reflecting unhealthy functioning. Remoteness based on Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia classification. Socio-economic status based on Socio-Economic Index For Areas classification.

Source: NSW Child Health Survey 2001. Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health (unpublished data).

Comment

Levels of family functioning do not differ greatly by demographic characteristics.

Families with a marginally healthier level of family functioning than the overall population include families:

•  with mothers who have tertiary level education (1.58)
•  in the three highest categories of socio-economic advantage (1.67)
•  with young children or children of mixed ages (1.67).