Refining measurement structure of parenting dimensions: an item response theory approach

King, Kelsie Ann (2023) Refining measurement structure of parenting dimensions: an item response theory approach. Masters thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

Numerous studies have linked aspects of parenting to psychological outcomes including anxiety, depression, and problem behavior. More recently, there has been a shift in focus from parenting styles (e.g., authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, uninvolved) to parenting dimensions (e.g., warmth, rejection, control). This research has produced a large number of parenting dimension measures that, while useful in exploring what components may be most important in predicting child developmental outcomes, have accumulated in overwhelming numbers. The amount of available parenting measures, each with different factor structures and many overlapping labels for constructs, can make measure selection in research studies feel arbitrary and creates ambiguity in our measurement and interpretation of parenting. No published study has yet attempted to comprehensively review and consolidate the large number of dimensions across several measures. The present study attempts to do so through adopting an item response theory approach to data reduction. Item response theory (IRT) is a psychometric framework that identifies measure items with the most reliable, valid, and informative properties. In this study, 998 participants completed a survey of 251 items across 14 measures including 119 parenting dimension items extracted from five established measures, demographics, childhood trauma, adverse childhood experiences, trait affect, self-esteem, anxiety, depressive symptoms, externalizing problem behavior, and flourishing/well-being. Data was split into two samples using a cross-validation approach. Ordinal factor analysis on sample one was used to identify the factor structure with best fit and to select the best items for each factor. The model and selected items were then confirmed using sample two data. This produced a 48-item long form and 24-item short form self-report measure that captured six parenting dimensions and had reliability comparable to previously established measures, although one factor related to Involvement appeared weaker than the rest. Explanations and recommendations for future research are offered. Overall, the consolidated and improved measure of parenting dimensions should help to clarify construct ambiguity in the field and further research on parenting and its relation to adult mental health.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	item response theory; ordinal factor analysis; parenting assessment; parenting measure; psychometric; scale development
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of Social and Behavioral Science > Psychological Sciences
Date Deposited:	15 May 2025 21:55
Last Modified:	15 May 2025 21:55
URI:	https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/6141

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