The Family System Test (FAST). A pilot study in families with a young adult member with cancer

The impact of a cancer diagnosis upon a family has become a focus of clinical interest, but few scientific studies have been completed in this area. The objectives of this pilot study were twofold: first, to test the applicability of the Family System Test (FAST) in families (n = 5) with a young adult member with cancer and secondly to evaluate patterns of interactions within these families. Results show that the FAST is applicable and useful to evaluate the different perceptions of hierarchy and cohesion--two essential variables--within these families. The great majority of family members represented their relationships as balanced (i.e., cohesive and moderately hierarchical). However, contrary to nonclinical families, fathers had a less positive view than mothers and patients: fathers more often perceived family and parenteral relations as unbalanced, and also more often perceived a reversal of hierarchy and a cross-generational coalition within the family. Implications for future research and clinical care are discussed.