Parent-child relationship disorders. Part I. Parental overprotection and the development of the Parent Protection Scale

J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1995 Aug;16(4):244-50.

Abstract

There is a spectrum of parental protective behaviors promoting child safety and security, ranging from neglect to overprotection. This paper describes the development and psychometric properties of a new measure of parental protective behaviors toward children age 2 to 10 years, the Parent Protection Scale (PPS). Items were selected to represent key dimensions of protective behaviors. Factor analyses suggested four subscales: Supervision, Separation Problems, Dependence, and Control. The PPS has acceptable internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and clinical validity. Norms by child age in the form of cutoff points corresponding to +1 SD were determined. Clinical and research uses for the PPS are noted.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Maternal Behavior*
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Parenting*
  • Paternal Behavior*
  • Psychology, Child
  • Psychometrics
  • Sex Factors