ERIC Number: EJ859928
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Sep
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-3590
EISSN: N/A
Validation of a New Self-Report Measure of Parental Attributions
Snarr, Jeffery D.; Slep, Amy M. Smith; Grande, Vincent P.
Psychological Assessment, v21 n3 p390-401 Sep 2009
Attributional theory and empirical evidence suggest that a tendency to make stable, global self-causal attributions for undesirable events is associated with negative outcomes. However, existing self-report measures of parental attributions do not account for the possibility that dysfunctional parent-causal attributions for child misbehavior might be important predictors of poor family functioning. To address these concerns, the authors developed and tested a new measure of both parent-causal and child-responsible attributions for child misbehavior in a sample of 453 community couples. Structural validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, internal consistency, and temporal stability of the new measure were examined. As expected, confirmatory factor analysis resulted in 2 factors, Child-Responsible (9 items) and Parent-Causal (7 items); the final model was cross-validated in a holdout sample. The final scale demonstrated adequate internal consistency ([alpha]s = 0.81-0.90), test-retest reliability (rs = 0.55-0.76), and convergent and discriminant validity. Dysfunctional parent-causal and child-responsible attributions significantly predicted parental emotional problems, ineffective discipline, parent-child physical aggression, and low parenting satisfaction. Associations with parent-child aggression and parenting satisfaction were generally larger than with partner aggression and relationship satisfaction. (Contains 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Attribution Theory, Emotional Problems, Behavior Problems, Aggression, Validity, Child Rearing, Parent Child Relationship, Factor Analysis, Parenting Styles, Reliability, Discipline, Models
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A