Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale – PACS
Measures the frequency of sexual communication between adolescents and their parents.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale – PACS was developed by Jessica McDermott Sales, Robin R. Milhausen, Ralph J. DiClemente (2008). It is designed to measure Parent-adolescent sexual communication frequency. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 5 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never, 2 = Rarely, 3 = Sometimes, 4 = Often.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 5 to 20. Interpretation guidelines:
- Total Score Range (higher scores indicate more frequent communication): 5 – 20
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of >= .90.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.