The Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting Questionnaire: Psychometric Characteristics of a Revised Version

This study describes the development of the Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting Questionnaire (PDEPQ), which assesses key parental cognitions underlying punitive parental behaviours, namely 1) Approval of Physical Punishment; 2) Approval of Non-Physical Punishment; 3) Subjective Norms; and 4) Parenting Self-Efficacy. In Study 1, two samples (parents, professionals) were recruited to assess the content validity of the four scales, following which a revised version was created. In Study 2, the revised PDEPQ was administered to 400 Canadian parents to examine the factor structure as well its reliability and validity. Results indicated a good factor structure of the scales, but several items were removed to achieve a better fit. Internal consistency of the four scales ranged from acceptable to excellent. Correlations between the scale scores at the two time points were large in magnitude and significant, indicating excellent test-retest reliability. Furthermore, correlations between the PDEPQ scales and measures of similar constructs were significant and in the expected direction, indicating a strong alignment of each scale with its respective construct of interest. In conclusion, findings from these various studies indicate good psychometric properties of the PDEPQ scales, as well as strong evidence of construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. Highlights Psychometric assessment of a novel measurement instrument to assess parents’ social cognitions of physical and emotional punitive parenting. Validation of a measurement instrument assessing of attitudes toward physical and emotional punishment, social norms, and sense of self-efficacy. Use of Items Response Theory analysis in parenting research to assess dimensions of punitive parenting.