Co-Dependency Inventory

Co-Dependency Inventory

Co-Dependency Inventory used in psychology are essential tools for clinical and research assessments. This post is based on dissertations submitted by students during their academic programs. At ‘Mental Health,’ we arrange and provide these resources to you. Here is the complete list of resources (Click Here). To access these materials, click on the ‘Avail File’ section below.”

Co-Dependency Inventory
Co-Dependency Inventory

About Co-Dependency Inventory

The Co-Dependency Inventory (CODI), created by Stonebrink in 1988, emerged from the need to quantify co-dependency, which had previously been discussed largely in anecdotal terms. The tool was originally developed for use in research examining the impact of socio-cultural characteristics on co-dependency, but it has since become a valuable tool in both clinical and research settings for identifying co-dependent behaviors and tendencies.

Purpose of the Tool

The Co-Dependency Inventory (CODI) is designed to measure co-dependency traits in individuals, particularly in relationships where one partner exhibits maladaptive behaviors such as addiction or emotional instability. This tool helps clinicians and researchers assess the emotional, psychological, and behavioral patterns that contribute to co-dependent relationships. It is particularly valuable in therapy settings to identify unhealthy relational dynamics and guide interventions aimed at fostering healthier relationships.

Background

Co-dependency is a concept widely discussed in mental health and addiction recovery contexts. It describes a pattern where individuals become overly reliant on others for their emotional well-being, often enabling destructive behaviors like substance abuse. The Co-Dependency Inventory (CODI) was developed to provide a structured way to evaluate the presence of co-dependent traits, which are often rooted in low self-esteem, a need for control, and difficulty setting personal boundaries.

Description

The Co-Dependency Inventory (CODI) is a self-report questionnaire that evaluates various aspects of co-dependent behavior. It consists of a series of statements designed to assess the respondent’s emotional and behavioral responses in relationships, particularly in relation to their sense of self-worth and their tendency to prioritize the needs of others above their own.

The inventory covers several key areas:

  • Self-esteem: Measures how individuals view their own self-worth, especially in relation to others.
  • Control: Assesses the need for control over situations and people, a common trait in co-dependent individuals.
  • Boundaries: Evaluates the respondent’s ability to set and maintain personal boundaries in relationships.
  • Caretaking: Looks at the individual’s tendency to care for others at the expense of their own well-being.
  • Emotional dependency: Gauges how reliant individuals are on others for emotional validation and fulfillment.

Each item is scored on a Likert scale, with higher scores indicating more pronounced co-dependent traits. The overall score provides insight into the severity of co-dependency, with specific sub-scores highlighting areas of particular concern, such as low self-esteem or boundary-setting difficulties.

Psychometric Properties

The Co-Dependency Inventory has demonstrated adequate reliability and validity in studies where it has been applied. In particular, it has shown strong internal consistency, suggesting that the items effectively measure a cohesive construct of co-dependency. However, because the inventory was initially developed for research in a specific socio-cultural context, its psychometric properties may vary when applied to diverse populations.

Stonebrink’s original research found that the inventory could reliably differentiate between individuals with high and low levels of co-dependency, supporting its discriminant validity. Although the inventory is often used in therapeutic settings, its use in cross-cultural studies has been somewhat limited, highlighting a need for further validation in diverse populations.

Age Group

The Co-Dependency Inventory (CODI) is appropriate for use with adults aged 18 and older. While co-dependency can manifest at any age, this inventory is designed to assess adult relational dynamics, particularly in the context of romantic relationships or close family relationships where addiction or emotional issues are present.

References

  • Stonebrink, S. (1988). A measure of co-dependency and the impact of socio-cultural characteristics. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Hawaii, School of Social Work.
  • Stonebrink, S. (1988). Co-Dependency Inventory (CODI). In J. Fischer & K. J. Corcoran (Eds.), Measures for Clinical Practice and Research: A Sourcebook (4th ed., Vol. 1, pp. 221-223). New York: Oxford University Press.

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