The Reliability and Validity Study of the Turkish Version of Parenting Scale

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted for the purpose of determining the validity and reliability of the Parenting Scale in the Turkish sample.
METHODS: The study was conducted as a methodological-descriptive-cross sectional study. The study sample consisted of 355 parents that had applied to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Polyclinic of Uludağ University. However; as 85 parents did not precisely fill the scales, they were excluded from the sample and the analyses were conducted on the basis of 270 parents. The study data were collected by using the Demographic Data Collection Form and the Parenting Scale. Validity analyses of the scale were examined via explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency of the scale was evaluated via cronbach alpha, Spearman-Brown and Guttman split-half coefficients. The relationship between item-total score and item-subscale total score was examined via pearson correlation analysis.
RESULTS: The cronbach alpha values of the Parenting Scale were determined as; 0.935 in the lower dimension of Laxness, 0.916 in the lower dimension of Over-reactivity, 0.770 in the lower dimension of Hostility (use of verbal or physical force) and 0.829 in the total scale. The factor loads varied between; 0.52 and 0.98 in the lower dimension of Laxness, 0.75 and 0.92 in the lower dimension of Over-reactivity and 0.46 and 0.95 in the lower dimension of Hostility. It was determined that the total scale scores and correlations of items in the scale varied between 0.20-0.66. It was also determined that item-subscale total score correlations varied between; 0.61-0.96 in the lower dimension of Laxness, 0.70-0.86 in the lower dimension of Over-reactivity and 0.68-0.91 in the lower dimension of Hostility.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Parenting Scale is a valid and reliable tool that could be used in the Turkish culture.