The parent/caregiver involvement scale - Short form is a valid measure of parenting quality in high-risk families.

Abstract

Measures of parenting quality that are valid among high-risk families are needed for research and program evaluation. This study investigates the functioning of the Parent-Caregiver Involvement Scale -Short Form (P/CIS-SF) in a high-risk sample. The P/CIS-SF measures several behaviors pertaining to both amount and quality, as well overall impressions of parenting. Participants were 170 six-month-olds and their mothers who were at risk for child abuse, impoverished, single, young, and had multiple children. Mother-infant interaction was videotaped in the home during semi-structured play. These high-risk parents scored in the midrange on most P/CIS-SF items, indicating that mothers engaged with their infants for approximately 50% of the semi-structured play session and the engagement tended to be of moderate quality. There were no floor or ceiling effects with the exception of teaching behavior which was rare among these parents. Analysis revealed that while amount and quality are interrelated, they capture distinct aspects of parenting. Validity of P/CIS-SF scores was indicated by correlation with Ainsworth s sensitivity scale and the Emotional Availability Scales intrusiveness subscale. P/CIS-SF scores also correlated with maternal education, but were independent of maternal risk (i.e., depression, drug use, domestic violence, and child abuse) within this high-risk sample. Implications are that the P/CIS-SF is valid for measuring parenting quality in high-risk families and is able to distinguish between dimensions of parenting, making it useful for targeted interventions.