Alabama Parenting Questionnaire – Short Form (APQ-SF)
A 9-item self-report measure designed to assess key parenting practices associated with disruptive behavior in children.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Alabama Parenting Questionnaire – Short Form (APQ-SF) was developed by Frank J. Elgar, Daniel A. Waschbusch, Mark R. Dadds, & N. Sigvaldason (2007). It is designed to measure Parenting practices. The scale is intended for use with Parents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 9 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Positive Parenting, Inconsistent Discipline, Poor Supervision.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Parenting | 1,6,7 | 3 |
| Inconsistent Discipline | 2,4,9 | 3 |
| Poor Supervision | 3,5,8 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never, 2 = Almost Never, 3 = Sometimes, 4 = Often, 5 = Always.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 3 to 15. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low occurrence of parenting practice: 3 – 7
- Moderate occurrence of parenting practice: 8 – 11
- High occurrence of parenting practice: 12 – 15
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.