Factor Structure and Validity of the Parenting Scale

Abstract

Confirmatory factor analyses based on the scoring derived from 5 prior studies of the Parenting Scale were conducted using a representatively recruited sample of 453 couples parenting 3-to 7-year-old children. Comparative analyses favored the Reitman et al. (2001) 2-factor scoring system as well as a 3-factor solution, including Lax, Overreactive, and Hostile discipline. This 3-factor solution demonstrated good fit across parent gender and child age and gender. Mothers rated themselves as more overreactive than fathers. The factor scores correlated significantly with several validity measures, including child behavior problems. The Hostile factor contributed significantly to the prediction of child behavior problems after controlling for Lax and Overreactive discipline. Both parents reported using more dysfunctional discipline than they thought they should.

Notes

Note: ECBI = Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory–Intensity; STAXI = State–Trait Anger Expression Inventory; BDI–2 = Beck Depression Inventory–2; IMP = Impulsivity Hyperactive-Impulsive subscale of the Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Evaluation scale; DAS = Dyadic Adjustment Scale.

Note: χ² = Satorra–Bentler χ²; df = degrees of freedom; χ²/df = Satorra-Bentler χ²/degrees of freedom ratio; NNFI = non normed fit index; CFI = comparative fit index; RMSEA = root mean square error of approximation; three-factor = solution with Lax, Overreactive, and Hostile factors.

*p < .05. **p < .001.

Arnold et al. (1993) = Arnold, O'Leary, Wolff, and Acker (1993); Collett et al. (2001) = Collett, Gimpel, Greenson, and Gunderson (2001); Harvey et al. (2001) = Harvey, Danforth, Ulaszek, and Eberhardt (2001); Irvine et al. (1999) = Irvine, Biglan, Smolkowki, and Ary (1999).

Note: n for younger children = 224; n for older children = 229. “Do” = Parenting Scale scores; “Should” = Parenting Scale–Should scores.

Note: All correlations are Spearman rank order correlations. OVR = Parenting Scale–Overreactive; LAX = Parenting Scale–Lax; HOS = Parenting Scale–Hostile; ECBI = Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory–Intensity; STAXI = State–Trait Anger Expression Inventory; BDI = Beck Depression Inventory–2; IMP = Impulsivity axis of the Hyperactive Impulsive subscale of the Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Evaluation Scale; DAS = Dyadic Adjustment Scale.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note: R ² values in the table are standardized regression coefficients.

*p < .01. **p < .001.