Scale Overview
The Autism Parenting Stress Index (APSI) was developed by Silva, L. M. T., & Schalock, M. (2012). It is designed to measure Parenting Stress. The scale is intended for use with Parents of children with autism and developmental disabilities.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 13 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Core Social Disability, Difficult-to-Manage Behavior, Physical Issues.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Core Social Disability |
1,2,11,12,13 |
5 |
| Difficult-to-Manage Behavior |
3,4,5,6 |
4 |
| Physical Issues |
7,8,9,10 |
4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not stressful, 1 = Sometimes creates stress, 2 = Often creates stress, 3 = Very stressful on a daily basis, 5 = So stressful sometimes we feel we can't cope.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 65. Interpretation guidelines:
- Mild Stress: 0 – 19
- Moderate Stress: 20 – 39
- Severe Stress: 40 – 65
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Acceptable internal consistency and test-retest stability.
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.