Abstract
This study examined the psychometric characteristics of the Parent and Family Adjustment Scales (PAFAS). The PAFAS was designed as a brief outcome measure for assessing changes in parenting practices and parental adjustment in the evaluation of both public health and individual or group parenting interventions. The inventory consists of the Parenting scale measuring parenting practices and quality of parent–child relationship and of the Family Adjustment scale measuring parental emotional adjustment and partner and family support in parenting. Two studies were conducted to validate the inventory. A sample of 370 parents participated in Study 1 and a sample of 771 parents participated in Study 2. Children’s ages ranged from 2 to 12 years old. In Study 1 confirmatory factor analysis supported an 18-item, four factor model of PAFAS Parenting, and a 12-item, three factor model of PAFAS Family Adjustment. Psychometric evaluation of the PAFAS revealed that the scales had good internal consistency, as well as satisfactory construct and predictive validity. In Study 2 confirmatory factor analysis supported stability of the factor structures of PAFAS Parenting and PAFAS Family Adjustment revealed in Study 1. Potential uses of the measure and implications for future validation studies are discussed.
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Notes
Numbers may not add up to 100 % due to the missing data.
These items did not form a separate factor in a subsequent analysis. For more information please contact first author.
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Appendices
Appendix 1: Parent and Family Adjustment Scales (PAFAS)—A List of the Original 40 items
Item |
|---|
1. I make my child apologise for misbehaving |
2. I tell my child to stop as soon as I notice them misbehaving |
3. If my child doesn’t do what they’re told to do, I give in and do it myself |
4. I deliberately ignore my child’s minor misbehaviour |
5. I give my child a treat, reward or fun activity for behaving well |
6. I follow through with a consequence (e.g. take away a toy) when my child misbehaves |
7. I send my child to time-out (e.g. sit alone in a quiet place) when they misbehave |
8. I threaten something (e.g. to turn off TV) when my child misbehaves but I don’t follow through |
9. I shout or get angry with my child when they misbehave |
10. I praise my child when they behave well |
11. I nag my child, or have a long talk about why their behaviour is not acceptable |
12. I try to make my child feel bad (e.g. guilt or shame) for misbehaving to teach them a lesson |
13. I give my child attention (e.g. a hug, wink, smile or kiss) when they behave well |
14. I spank (smack) my child when they misbehave |
15. I argue with my child about their behaviour/attitude |
16. I deal with my child’s misbehaviour the same way all the time |
17. I give my child what they want when they get angry or upset |
18. I play or read books with my child |
19. I get annoyed with my child |
20. I chat/talk with my child |
21. I encourage my child to be physically active |
22. I enjoy giving my child hugs, kisses and cuddles |
23. I worry about how my child will turn out in the future |
24. I am proud of my child |
25. I enjoy spending time with my child |
26. I teach my child to do things |
27. I eat meals with my child |
28. I have a good relationship with my child |
29. I feel stressed or worried |
30. I feel happy |
31. I feel sad or depressed |
32. I feel satisfied with my life |
33. I cope with the emotional demands of being a parent |
34. Our family members help and support each other |
35. Our family members get on well with each other |
36. Our family members fight or argue |
37. Our family members criticize or put each other down |
38. I work as a team with my partner in parenting |
39. I disagree with my partner about parenting |
40. I have a good relationship with my partner |
Appendix 2: Parenting and Family Adjustment Scales (PAFAS)—Final Version
Please read each statement and select a number 0, 1, 2 or 3 that indicates how true the statement was of you over the past four (4) weeks. There are no right or wrong answers. Do not spend too much time on any statement.
Example:
The rating scale is as follows:
-
0.
Not true of me at all
-
1.
True of me a little, or some of the time
-
2.
True of me quite a lot, or a good part of the time
-
3.
True of me very much, or most of the time
How true is this of you? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Not at all | A little | Quite a lot | Very much | |
1. If my child doesn’t do what they’re told to do, I give in and do it myself | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
2. I give my child a treat, reward or fun activity for behaving well | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
3. I follow through with a consequence (e.g. take away a toy) when my child misbehaves | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
4. I threaten something (e.g. to turn off TV) when my child misbehaves but I don’t follow through | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
5. I shout or get angry with my child when they misbehave | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
6. I praise my child when they behave well | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
7. I try to make my child feel bad (e.g. guilt or shame) for misbehaving to teach them a lesson | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
8. I give my child attention (e.g. a hug, wink, smile or kiss) when they behave well | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
9. I spank (smack) my child when they misbehave | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
10. I argue with my child about their behaviour/attitude | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
11. I deal with my child’s misbehaviour the same way all the time | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
12. I give my child what they want when they get angry or upset | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
13. I get annoyed with my child | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
14. I chat/talk with my child | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
15. I enjoy giving my child hugs, kisses and cuddles | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
16. I am proud of my child | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
17. I enjoy spending time with my child | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
18. I have a good relationship with my child | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
19. I feel stressed or worried | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
20. I feel happy | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
21. I feel sad or depressed | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
22. I feel satisfied with my life | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
23. I cope with the emotional demands of being a parent | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
24. Our family members help or support each other | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
25. Our family members get on well with each other | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
26. Our family members fight or argue | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
27. Our family members criticize or put each other down | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
How true is this of your child? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
If you are in the relationship please answer the following 3 questions | Not at all | A little | Quite a lot | Very much |
28. I work as a team with my partner in parenting | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
29. I disagree with my partner about parenting | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
30. I have a good relationship with my partner | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Appendix 3: Participants’ Demographic Information
Variable | Study 1 | Study 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mothers N = 295 (85 %) | Fathers N = 14 (4 %) | Total N = 347 (100 %) | Mothers N = 539 (93.9 %) | Fathers N = 32 (5.6 %) | Total N = 574 (100 %) | |
Age | ||||||
Mean (SD) | 39.34 (5.93) | 42.32 (6.63) | 39.49 (5.98) | 37.96 (6.18) | 42.04 (6.87) | 38.16 (6.31) |
Range | 24–58 | 28–54 | 24–58 | 24–52 | 31–60 | 24–56 |
Child’s age | ||||||
Mean (SD) | 7.29 (2.80) | 8.23 (2.71) | 7.34 (2.80) | 6.03 (3.11) | 6.72 (3.06) | 6.08 (3.11) |
Range | 2–12 | 3–12 | 2–12 | 2–12 | 2–12 | 2–12 |
Variable | Mothers N = 295 (85 %) | Fathers N = 14 (4 %) | Total N = 347 (100 %) | Mothers N = 539 (93.9 %) | Fathers N = 32 (5.6 %) | Total N = 574 (100 %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frequency (%) | Frequency (%) | Frequency (%) | Frequency (%) | Frequency (%) | Frequency (%) | |
Child’s gender | ||||||
Girls | 174 (59.00 %) | 5 (35.70 %) | 180 (51.90 %) | 264 (49 %) | 11 (34.4 %) | 275 (47.9 %) |
Ethnicity | ||||||
Caucasian/Australia | 244 (82.70 %) | 6 (42.90 %) | 250 (72.00 %) | 324 (60.1 %) | 18 (56.3 %) | 345 (60.10 %) |
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander | 7 (2.40 %) | – | 7 (2.00 %) | 5 (.9 %) | – | 5 (.9 %) |
Asian | 5 (1.70 %) | – | 5 (1.40 %) | 6 (1.1 %) | – | 6 (1.0 %) |
Other | 6 (2.00 %) | 2 (14.30 %) | 8 (2.30 %) | 58 (10.8 %) | 5 (15.6 %) | 63 (11.0 %) |
Education | ||||||
University degree | 159 (53.90 %) | 7 (50.00 %) | 166 (47.80 %) | 346 (67.50 %) | 23 (82.10 %) | 371 (68.30 %) |
High school | 73 (24.70 %) | 3 (21.40 %) | 76 (21.90 %) | 66 (12.90 %) | 2 (6.30 %) | 68 (11.90 %) |
Trade/Technical college | 63 (21.40 %) | 4 (28.60 %) | 67 (19.30 %) | 100 (18.60 %) | 3 (9.40 %) | 104 (18.10 %) |
Relationship status | ||||||
Married | 221 (74.90 %) | 7 (50.00 %) | 228 (65.70 %) | 406 (75.30 %) | 23 (71.90 %) | 430 (74.90 %) |
Cohabitating | 31 (10.50 %) | 2 (14.30 %) | 33 (9.50 %) | 50 (9.30 %) | 4 (12.50 %) | 55 (9.60 %) |
Divorced | 28 (9.50 %) | 4 (28.60 %) | 32 (9.20 %) | 50 (9.30 %) | 4 (12.50 %) | 54 (9.40 %) |
Widow/er | 2 (.70 %) | – | 2 (.60 %) | 2 (.40 %) | – | 2 (.30 %) |
Single | 9 (3.10 %) | – | 9 (2.60 %) | 29 (5.40 %) | – | 29 (5.10 %) |
Work status | ||||||
Working full-time | 95 (32.20 %) | 8 (57.10 %) | 103 (29.70 %) | 135 (25.00 %) | 21 (65.60 %) | 157 (27.40 %) |
Working part time | 107 (36.30 %) | 3 (21.40 %) | 110 (31.70 %) | 238 (44.20 %) | 4 (12.50 %) | 244 (42.50 %) |
Not working, looking for a job | 15 (51.00 %) | 2 (14.30 %) | 15 (4.30 %) | 11 (2.00 %) | 2 (6.30 %) | 11 (1.90 %) |
Home based paid work | 24 (8.10 %) | – | 26 (7.50 %) | 16 (3.00 %) | – | 18 (3.10 %) |
Not working | 54 (18.30 %) | 1 (7.10 %) | 55 (15.90 %) | 112 (20.80 %) | 1 (3.10 %) | 113 (19.70 %) |
Meeting essential expenses over last 12 months | ||||||
No difficulties | 230 (78.00 %) | 10 (71.40 %) | 240 (69.20 %) | 398 (73.80 %) | 23 (71.90 %) | 423 (73.70 %) |
Difficulties | 63 (21.40 %) | 4 (28.60 %) | 67 (19.30 %) | 105 (19.50 %) | 4 (12.50 %) | 110 (19.20 %) |
Finance, Earns | ||||||
Enough to purchase most of the things | 101 (34.20 %) | 3 (21.40 %) | 104 (30.00 %) | 184 (34.10 %) | 11 (34.40 %) | 196 (36.20 %) |
Enough to purchase only some things | 138 (46.80 %) | 8 (57.10 %) | 146 (42.10 %) | 214 (39.70 %) | 10 (31.30 %) | 225 (39.20 %) |
Not enough to purchase most of the things | 56 (19.00 %) | 3 (21.40 %) | 59 (17.00 %) | 113 (21.00 %) | 7 (21.90 %) | 121 (22.30 %) |
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Sanders, M.R., Morawska, A., Haslam, D.M. et al. Parenting and Family Adjustment Scales (PAFAS): Validation of a Brief Parent-Report Measure for Use in Assessment of Parenting Skills and Family Relationships. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 45, 255–272 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-013-0397-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-013-0397-3