Parent-Child Relationship Schema Scale – PCRSS
Measures relational expectations and schemas regarding the parent-child relationship.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Parent-Child Relationship Schema Scale – PCRSS was developed by Marcia D. Dixson, Elizabeth Bermes, Suze Fair (2014). It is designed to measure Parent-child relationship expectations. The scale is intended for use with Parents and children (adolescents/adults).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 44 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Do Together, Communication Attention, Helping/Understanding, Love/Respect, Conflict.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Do Together | 1,2,5,7,8,11,13,14 | 8 |
| Communication Attention | 4,6,10,15,16,19,22,25,40,41,42,43 | 12 |
| Helping/Understanding | 18,20,23,24,28,31,33,34 | 8 |
| Love/Respect | 17,21,26,27,29,30,32,39 | 8 |
| Conflict | 35,36,37,38 | 4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point frequency scale (1 = Never to 5 = Always).
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Do together: 0.86, Communication attention: 0.91, Helping/Understanding: 0.85, Love/Respect: 0.83, Conflict: 0.76.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.