Studi empiris menunjukkan bahwa ritual keluarga memiliki efek tidak langsung yang positif terhadap kualitas interaksi dan organisasi sistem yang mengarah ke keberfungsian keluarga. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui kontribusi ritual keluarga dalam membedakan kadar keberfungsian keluarga berdasarkan persepsi anak, khususnya yang berusia remaja. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan desain komparatif. Sampel yang digunakan berjumlah 231 orang siswa kelas II/III SMA yang tinggal bersama orang tua di Kota Makassar yang diperoleh berdasarkan teknik area stratified random sampling. Instrumen yang digunakan adalah McMasterFamily Assessment Device(FAD)dan Family Ritual Questionnaire(FRQ).Teknik analisis data dalam penelitian ini menggunakan teknikdiscriminant function analysis. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa hanya terdapat tiga settingritual keluarga yang paling baik dalam membedakan kadar keberfungsian keluarga, yaitu liburan keluarga, waktu makan, dan tradisi budaya (canonical correlation = 0,549; Sig.X2= 0,000; kontribusi = 30%). Dengan demikian, penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa terdapat kontribusi ritual keluarga dalam membedakan tinggi-rendahnya keberfungsian keluarga.

Abstract-this study aims to understand the dynamics of relation within family in terms of family member's perception about fathering. Fathering refers to the role of father, including role expectation and role performance. This research is a qualitative descriptive study using systemic approach. A total of 10 families were selected based on family functioning as measured with the Family Assessment Device (FAD), which is filled by teenagers of the family. Ten families were divided into two groups based on the general functioning scores of FAD, that is high-family functioning and low-family functioning. Father, mother and two children minimal of the family were interviewed using open-questionnaire about fathering. The results show that fathers perceive their role mainly related to the role of assistance, including the mentoring of character development and cultivation of religious values, then the instrumental role and the affective role. Mother perceives that fathers should perform their role of instrumental and affective. Meanwhile, the fathers showed less of performance in affective relationships. Children also tend to perceive his father's lesser role in fostering an affective relationship and communicate their development. Interaction within the family is more determined by appreciation and the meaning of the interaction than the ways of interaction are realized. Future research needs to involve the researcher as semiparticipant to obtain deeper insight about family relation.