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Parental Attitudes Toward Discipline – Chicago Youth Development Study
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About Parental Attitudes Toward Discipline – Chicago Youth Development Study
Scale Name
Parental Attitudes Toward Discipline – Chicago Youth Development Study
Author Details
Patrick H. Tolan, Deborah Gorman-Smith, and David B. Henry (2000)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Parental Attitudes Toward Discipline – Chicago Youth Development Study, developed by Patrick H. Tolan, Deborah Gorman-Smith, and David B. Henry in 2000, is a parent-report questionnaire designed to measure two aspects of parental discipline: avoidance of discipline (the extent to which a parent disengages or avoids providing consequences for a child’s behavior) and discipline effectiveness (a parent’s perception of how effective their discipline is in controlling the child’s behavior). Targeting primary caregivers of youths initially in grades 6 and 8 (ages 11-14) in 1990, with longitudinal follow-up into adulthood, the scale was part of the Chicago Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study of risk and protective factors for urban youth. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005), it aligns with social learning theory (Bandura, 1977) and parenting effectiveness models, assessing how parental discipline attitudes influence youth behavior outcomes.
The scale comprises 10 items (5 per subscale) rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = “never” to 5 = “always”). Examples include “I avoid punishing my child even when they misbehave” (avoidance) and “My discipline methods work to control my child’s behavior” (effectiveness). Scores are summed per subscale (range: 5-25 each), with higher scores indicating greater avoidance or perceived effectiveness. Validated in urban samples, it is used to assess parenting practices, predict delinquency, and inform family interventions.
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals use the scale to evaluate parental discipline attitudes, study their impact on youth outcomes, and design prevention programs. Its dual-subscale structure and strong psychometrics are strengths, though its English-only availability and parent-only perspective may limit cross-cultural use and comprehensive assessment.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths or Chicago Youth Development Study publications, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to caregivers, noting that it assesses attitudes toward discipline to support effective parenting, emphasizing confidentiality and using non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking caregivers to rate the frequency of avoidance and perceived effectiveness of discipline over the past month, using the 5-point scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 3-5 minutes, given the 10-item format.
- Administer in a home, school, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration may be used for caregivers with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Parental Attitudes Toward Discipline – Chicago Youth Development Study demonstrates strong psychometric properties, as reported in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is high, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.84 for the overall scale, indicating excellent item cohesion across both subscales. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate to high based on similar parenting measures (r ≈ 0.65-0.85 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as increased delinquency for high avoidance (r ≈ 0.20-0.40) and reduced behavior problems for high effectiveness (r ≈ -0.25 to -0.45). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic achievement (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict youth behavioral outcomes in longitudinal studies. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the two-factor structure (avoidance, effectiveness) supports construct validity. The high reliability makes it robust, though pairing with youth-reported measures (e.g., Consistency of Discipline, Stern et al., 1999) can enhance accuracy.
Available Versions
12-Items
Reference
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Parental Attitudes Toward Discipline – Chicago Youth Development Study measure?
It measures parental avoidance of discipline and perceived discipline effectiveness.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals studying caregivers of youths.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 3-5 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets caregivers of youths initially in grades 6 and 8 in urban settings.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, it supports family interventions with high reliability (α = 0.84).
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