Of the normal population, approximately 10 percent would fall into this clinical range making the comparison very similar. Family environments were generally positive with higher than average levels of cohesion and expressiveness. There were lower than average levels of conflict and achievement orientation. Typically, this pattern is characterized as supportive. Expressiveness is the extent to which family members are encouraged to communicate their feelings directly.
Cohesion is the degree of help, commitment, and support family members provide for one another.
The Expressiveness and Cohesion subscales were associated with higher scores on the social competence score of the CBCL and lower scores on externalizing behavior. Essentially, the statistics demonstrated that the relationship between risk and competence was mediated by family environment. This study further substantiated the direct relationship between length of time spent in an institution and higher risk associated with child competence. Within this sample, a later age of entry into an institution was related to higher risk. This finding is probably reflective of the greater abuse and neglect experienced by children who entered an institution at a later age.