Scale Overview
The Parental Style Questionnaire – PSQ was developed by Eleanor Dibble & Donald J. Cohen (1974). It is designed to measure Parenting Style. The scale is intended for use with Parents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 25 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Warmth and Acceptance, Autonomy and Encouragement, Control and Discipline, Lax Control, Psychological Control.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Warmth and Acceptance |
1,3,10,14,15,17,19 |
7 |
| Autonomy and Encouragement |
2,4,18,20 |
4 |
| Control and Discipline |
5,8,9,12,21,24 |
6 |
| Lax Control |
6,7,22,23 |
4 |
| Psychological Control |
11,13,16,25 |
4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never, 2 = Almost never, 3 = Seldom, 4 = Half the time, 5 = Frequently, 6 = Almost always, 7 = Always.
The scale includes 7 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.