Attitudes towards Multi-Child Families Scale

Abstract

The Attitudes towards Multi-Child Families Scale (Babincak & Kacmarova, 2023) is a 20-item instrument designed to assess adults’ attitudes towards multi-child families. This scale was developed to address a gap in research concerning attitudes specifically directed at multi-child families. Initially, a 35-item version was created, drawing from research on multi-child families by Abbasi-Shavazi et al. (2003). The items were formulated to reflect factors distinguishing multi-child and one-child families, such as religiosity (Markova & Luksik, in Bianchi, 2013), employment and economic status (Willits & Swales, 2003), standard of living (Michalek, 2004), and emotional support (Helus, 2004). A pilot study conducted by Opocenska & Babincak (2020) verified the comprehensibility and discriminatory power of the initial 35 items. The measure was administered in Slovak to adults in Slovakia. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 3-factor structure, retaining 20 items, and acceptable internal consistency was reported.

Keywords

Good Life in Multi-Child Families, Deficient Standard of Living in Multi-Child Families, Negative Characteristics of Multi-Child Family Members, Family Size, Family Type Attitudes, Family Planning, Family Planning Attitudes, Family Size, Family Structure, Only Children, Siblings, Family and Parenting Measures.

Authors

• Babincak, Peter

• Kacmarova, Monika

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Attitudes towards Multi-Child Families Scale is to measure and evaluate adults’ attitudes regarding families with multiple children. This measure aims to provide a standardized tool for researchers to explore a topic previously under-researched, contributing to a deeper understanding of societal views on larger families.

Validity

No validity information is available for the Attitudes towards Multi-Child Families Scale in the provided text.

Reliability

The reliability of the Attitudes towards Multi-Child Families Scale was assessed through internal consistency, specifically using Cronbach’s alpha. The reported alpha values for all three factors ranged from .730 to .820, which are considered acceptable or adequate, indicating good internal consistency among the items within each factor.

Factor Analysis

Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed on the Attitudes towards Multi-Child Families Scale. The determination of the number of common factors was guided by the Hull method (Lorenzo-Seva et al., 2011) and Parallel analysis (Timmerman & Lorenzo-Seva, 2011). This analysis yielded a 3-factor solution, which accounted for 41% of the total variance in the data. The final scale consists of 20 items distributed across these three factors.

Instrument: Attitudes towards Multi-Child Families Scale

Test Type: Original

Format: The Attitudes towards Multi-Child Families Scale consists of 20 items. Respondents rate each item on a 5-point Likert-type response scale. The response options range from 1 (totally agree) to 5 (totally disagree).

Language Available: The scale is available in Slovak.

Population Group: The scale is designed for use with human populations, including both male and female individuals.

Age Group: The scale is appropriate for adults across various age ranges, including Young Adulthood (18-29 years), Thirties (30-39 years), Middle Age (40-64 years), Aged (65 years & older), and Very Old (85 years & older).

Population Details: The measure was administered to adult respondents in Slovakia.

Test Methodology: The development and evaluation of the Attitudes towards Multi-Child Families Scale involved Test Reliability analysis, specifically Internal Consistency. Additionally, Factor Analysis, including Exploratory Factor Analysis, was employed to determine the underlying structure of the scale.

Keywords

Good Life in Multi-Child Families, Deficient Standard of Living in Multi-Child Families, Negative Characteristics of Multi-Child Family Members, Family Size, Family Type Attitudes.

Authors

• Babincak, Peter

  • Affiliation: University of Presov Faculty of Arts, Institute of Psychology

  • Author ORCID Identifier: No data is Available

• Kacmarova, Monika

  • Affiliation: University of Presov Faculty of Arts, Institute of Psychology

  • Email addresses: [email protected]

  • Correspondence Address: University of Presov, 17. novembra 1, Presov, Slovakia, 080 01

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: To obtain permissions for the use of the Attitudes towards Multi-Child Families Scale, it is advised to contact the publisher.
Fee: There is no fee associated with the use of this instrument.
Test Year: 2023

References

• Abbasi-Shavazi, M. J., McDonald, P., & Hosseini-Chavoshi, M. (2003). The Fertility Transition in Iran: Revolution and Reproduction. Springer.

• Babincak, P., & Kacmarova, M. (2023). Attitudes towards multi-child families in the Slovak Republic. Journal of Family Studies.

• Helus, Z. (2004). Psychologie pro střední školy. Fortuna.

• Lorenzo-Seva, U., Timmerman, M. E., & Kiers, H. A. L. (2011). The Hull method for selecting the number of common factors. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 46(2), 340-360.

• Markova, I., & Luksik, I. (in Bianchi, S. M. (Ed.). (2013). Families as they really are. Columbia University Press).

• Michalek, J. (2004). Sociologie rodiny. Grada.

• Opocenska, A., & Babincak, P. (2020). Attitudes towards multi-child families in the Slovak Republic: A pilot study. Unpublished manuscript.

• Willits, F. K., & Swales, D. (2003). Economic well-being and family size: An analysis of family formation among Pennsylvania families. Journal of Family Issues, 24(5), 606-628.

Items of the Attitudes towards Multi-Child Families Scale

The Attitudes towards Multi-Child Families Scale consists of 20 items. The specific content of these items is available. The items are structured to reflect three main factors:

• Good life in multi-child families: This factor likely encompasses items related to positive perceptions and benefits associated with having a large family, such as increased emotional support, personal growth, and societal contributions.

• Deficient standard of living in multi-child families: This factor probably includes items addressing concerns about economic hardships, limited resources, and potential challenges in maintaining a good quality of life with many children.

• Negative characteristics of multi-child family members: This factor may contain items related to perceived negative traits or behaviors of individuals from larger families, potentially touching upon stereotypes or social judgments.

The specific items are located in the source reference: 2022-44860-001, Table 2, Page 1368.

Attitudes towards Multi-Child Families Scale

Good Life in Multi-Child Families

1. Multi-child families (with 3 and more children) are happier.

2. Children from multi-child families learn to communicate better.

3. Children in multi-child families (3 and more children) experience a lot of fun.

4. Children in multi-child families help each other more.

5. The more children in family the merrier.

6. A child from a multiple-child family never feels lonely.

Deficient Standard of Living in Multi-Child Families

1. Large number of children create financial pressure on a family

2. Large number of children hinders mothers from engaging in their interests and other activities

3. Multi-child families (3 and more children) must cut down the expenses.

4. Multi-child families are in worse economic situation than one-child or two-child families.

5. Two children in a family are enough these days.

6. It is better to provide for fewer children than for a large number of children who would have to wear used clothes.

Negative Characteristics of Multi-Child Family Members

1. Parents cannot raise a large number of children properly

2. A child from a multiple-child family is emotionally neglected.

3. Children from multi-child families are less educated than children from small families.

4. Intelligent people should have no more than two children.

5. Large number of children in a family puts parents under mental stress.

6. Individuality is lost in multi-child families.

7. I find parents of 3 and more children irresponsible.

8. Children from multi-child families are less intelligent.

Excluded Items

1. It is a luxury to be able to afford more than 2 children these days.

2. In one-child or two-child families, a child’s individuality and uniqueness are encouraged more.

3. It is great to be the only child.

4. Parents in large families tend to raise children in a more careless way.

5. Parents spend enough time with children in smaller families.

6. Multi-child families cannot afford spending holidays at sea.

7. These days only national minorities have more than two children.

8. The privacy of individuals diminishes in multi-child families.

9. Multi-child families do not reach the standard of living of one-child or two-child families.

10. I admire people with a large number of children.

11. If I could choose, I would like to have more than two siblings.

12. Parents in large families do not have enough time to spend with each child.

13. Children in small families have closer/better relationship with parents than children in multi-child families.

14. Only those parents with suitable personality type can have a larger number of children.

15. It is totally natural to have a large number of children, it is a human natural predisposition.

Note: Response options range from totally agree (1) to totally disagree (5). The scale was administered in the Slovak language, translations of the items are illustrative.