Psychology RootsTable of Contents
Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale
Scale Name
Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale
Author Details
Dr. David Olson
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale evaluates both the positive and negative dimensions of communication between adolescents and their parents. It provides insights into the quality of interactions within the parent-teen relationship, enabling identification of areas for improvement or reinforcement in family dynamics.
The scale features two subscales:
- Positive Communication: Measures constructive and supportive exchanges.
- Problems in Communication: Highlights challenges, misunderstandings, and barriers in communication.
This tool can be administered separately to adolescents or their parents. For adolescents, the scale is used twice—once for each parent—making it a comprehensive measure of family communication patterns.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Target Population: Adolescents aged 12–18 (Grades 7–12) and their parents.
- Instructions:
- Clearly explain the purpose of the scale to participants and ensure confidentiality.
- Provide separate forms for the adolescent and each parent.
- Response options range from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree).
- Administer the scale twice to adolescents, asking them to evaluate communication with each parent individually.
- Format: Self-report questionnaire.
- Scoring Procedures
- Assign scores based on the 5-point Likert scale.
- Separate the responses into the two subscales:
- Positive Communication: Items 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17.
- Problems in Communication: Items 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 20.
- Reverse-code items in the Problems in Communication subscale.
- Calculate subscale scores by summing the responses for each group of items.
- Combine the subscale scores for an overall communication score if desired.
Reliability and Validity
- Reliability: The alpha coefficients for both subscales and the total scale range between 0.78 and 0.92, indicating high reliability.
- Validity: The scale is grounded in family communication theory and has been validated in multiple studies.
Available Versions
20-Items
Reference
Barnes, H. (1982). Parent-Adolescent Communication. Olson in Family; Inventory. Social Sciencs/M. N: University of Minnesota.
Barnes, H. L., & Olson, D. H. (1985). Parent-adolescent communication and the circumplex model. Child development, 438-447.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the purpose of the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale?
It measures the positive and negative aspects of communication between adolescents and their parents.
Q2: Who can use this scale?
Adolescents aged 12–18 and their parents.
Q3: How many items are included in the scale?
The scale consists of 20 items, divided equally into two subscales.
Q4: How are the results scored?
Scores are calculated for each subscale, with reverse coding applied to the Problems in Communication items. The subscales can also be combined for an overall communication score.
Q5: Is permission required to use this scale?
Yes, permission can be obtained from Dr. David Olson, Family Social Science, University of Minnesota.
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
Share With Us
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at psychologyroots@gmail.com. We help others on behalf of you.
