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Parental Involvement – Rochester Youth Development Study
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About Parental Involvement – Rochester Youth Development Study
Scale Name
Parental Involvement – Rochester Youth Development Study
Author Details
Adapted from Susan B. Stern and Carolyn A. Smith (1995)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Parental Involvement – Rochester Youth Development Study, adapted from Stern and Smith (1995), is a parent-report questionnaire designed to measure how often parents report being involved with their children in a range of prosocial activities, such as helping with homework, attending school events, or engaging in recreational activities. Targeting parents of youths initially in grades 7-8 (ages 12-14) in 1988, with longitudinal follow-up into adulthood, the scale was part of the Rochester Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study of delinquency and protective factors. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005), it aligns with social control theory (Hirschi, 1969) and ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1979), assessing how parental engagement in prosocial activities promotes positive youth outcomes.
The scale comprises 8 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = “never” to 4 = “often”). Examples include “I help my child with schoolwork” and “I participate in activities with my child, like sports or hobbies.” Scores are summed (range: 8-32), with higher scores indicating greater parental involvement. Validated in urban samples, it is used to assess parenting practices, predict reduced delinquency, and inform family-based interventions.
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals use the scale to evaluate parental engagement, study protective factors, and design prevention programs. Its focus on prosocial activities and good reliability are strengths, but its parent-only perspective and English-only availability may limit comprehensive assessment and cross-cultural use.
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 Rochester Youth Development Study publications, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to parents, noting that it assesses involvement in prosocial activities to support positive youth development, emphasizing confidentiality and using non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking parents to rate the frequency of their involvement in prosocial activities with their child over the past month, using the 4-point scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 2-3 minutes, given the 8-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 parents with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Parental Involvement – Rochester Youth Development Study demonstrates good psychometric properties, as reported in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is strong, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.74, indicating good item cohesion. 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 reduced delinquency (r ≈ -0.20 to -0.40) and positive parent-child relationships (r ≈ 0.30-0.50). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like peer attitudes (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict positive behavioral outcomes in longitudinal studies. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s unidimensional focus on prosocial involvement supports construct validity. The good reliability supports its use, though pairing with youth-reported measures (e.g., Parental Involvement in School, MVPP, 2004) can enhance accuracy.
Available Versions
11-Items
Reference
Stern, S. B., & Smith, C. A. (1995). Family processes and delinquency in an ecological context. Social Service Review, 69(4), 703-731.
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 Involvement – Rochester Youth Development Study measure?
It measures how often parents engage in prosocial activities with their children.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals studying parents of youths.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 2-3 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets parents of youths initially in grades 7-8 in urban settings.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, it supports family interventions with good reliability (α = 0.74).
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