Scale Overview
The Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale – Adolescent Form (PACS) was developed by Barnes, H. L., & Olson, D. H. (1982). It is designed to measure Parent-Adolescent Communication. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Open Family Communication, Problems in Family Communication.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Open Family Communication |
1,3,6,7,8,9,13,14,16,17 |
10 |
| Problems in Family Communication |
2,4,5,10,11,12,15,18,19,20 |
10 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 10 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 20 to 100. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low/Problematic Communication: 20 – 50
- Moderate Communication: 51 – 75
- High/Positive Communication: 76 – 100
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Alpha coefficients range from .78 to .92.
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.