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Parenting Young Children (PARYC): Validation of a Self-Report Parenting Measure

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Abstract

The measurement of parenting behaviors is important to the field of psychology and the goal of remediating problematic parenting as a means of reducing child problem behaviors. The Parenting Young Children (PARYC) is a self-report measure designed to address parenting behaviors relevant for the caregivers of young children, and was assessed in sample of 579 high risk families. The measure assesses the frequency of several parenting behaviors, the perception of the parenting behaviors as problematic, and the degree to which the caregiver would like to make changes in specific parenting skills. An examination of the validity of the parenting behavior items revealed three parenting scales: (1) Supporting Positive Behavior (2) Setting Limits, and (3) Proactive Parenting. Confirmatory factor analysis results corroborate the findings of the exploratory factor analysis, supporting the measurement structure of these parenting scales. Tests of convergent validity indicate the PARYC scale is a suitable measure of parenting behaviors. In addition, the self-perception of parenting behaviors as problematic predicted concurrent levels of service utilization while controlling for simultaneous child behavior problems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Mind Research Network, 1101 Yale Blvd, NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA

    Amber D. McEachern

  2. Child and Family Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA

    Thomas J. Dishion

  3. Pitt Early Steps Project, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Chelsea M. Weaver

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Daniel S. Shaw

  5. Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Melvin N. Wilson

  6. Department of Social Policy and Social Intervention, Oxford University, Oxford, UK

    Frances Gardner

Authors
  1. Amber D. McEachern
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  2. Thomas J. Dishion
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  3. Chelsea M. Weaver
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  4. Daniel S. Shaw
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  5. Melvin N. Wilson
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  6. Frances Gardner
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Correspondence to Amber D. McEachern.

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McEachern, A.D., Dishion, T.J., Weaver, C.M. et al. Parenting Young Children (PARYC): Validation of a Self-Report Parenting Measure. J Child Fam Stud 21, 498–511 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-011-9503-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-011-9503-y

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