Scale Overview
The Perceived Parental Reactions Scale – Mother Version (PPRS) was developed by Brian L. B. Willoughby, Nathan D. Doty, Ellen B. Braaten, Neena M. Malik (2006). It is designed to measure Perceived parental reactions to coming out. The scale is intended for use with Gay, lesbian, and bisexual (LGB) individuals.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 32 items organized into 8 factors/subscales: Acceptance, Parent-Focused Concerns, General Homophobia, Negative Shock, Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Acceptance |
1,5,8,10 |
4 |
| Parent-Focused Concerns |
2,4,7,12 |
4 |
| General Homophobia |
3,6,9,11 |
4 |
| Negative Shock |
13,18,23,28 |
4 |
| Denial |
14,19,24,29 |
4 |
| Anger |
15,20,25,30 |
4 |
| Bargaining |
16,21,26,31 |
4 |
| Depression |
17,22,27,32 |
4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 4 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 32 to 160. Interpretation guidelines:
- Total Score Range (Higher scores represent more negative perceived reactions): 32 – 160
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of α = .97.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.