Authoritative Parenting Index – API
Measures authoritative parenting behavior through the dimensions of responsiveness and demandingness as perceived by the child.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Authoritative Parenting Index – API was developed by Jackson, C., Henriksen, L., & Foshee, V. A. (1998). It is designed to measure Authoritative Parenting. The scale is intended for use with Children and adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 16 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Responsiveness, Demandingness.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Responsiveness | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 | 9 |
| Demandingness | 10,11,12,13,14,15,16 | 7 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not like, 2 = Sort of like, 3 = A lot like, 4 = Just like.
The scale includes 3 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 16 to 64. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Authoritative Parenting: 16 – 39
- High Authoritative Parenting: 40 – 64
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Good internal consistency and test-retest reliability.
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.