Initial Validation of the Parent-Report Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale (CAPES) in a Chinese Cultural Context

Abstract

This study aimed to validate a parent-report measure of child adjustment and parenting efficacy (Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale [CAPES]) in a Chinese cultural context. Six hundred and fifty Chinese parents in China participated in the study and completed a set of questionnaires including the CAPES, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC), and the Parenting and Family Adjustment Scales (PAFAS). The factorial, convergent, and concurrent validity as well as internal consistency were evaluated. The results provided support for a new 2-factor structure of child behavioral and emotional adjustment. The 1-factor structure of parenting efficacy was confirmed. The three constructs obtained satisfactory internal consistency. Moreover, the CAPES scores correlated significantly with the SDQ, PSOC, and PAFAS in the expected pattern, which indicated its excellent convergent and concurrent validity. Therefore, it is a promising measure, due to its brevity and comprehensiveness, with the first indications of satisfactory internal consistency and validity among Chinese parents. However, a revision of the instrument is needed to avoid the ordering effects of positive and negative items, and further hypothesis-driven research is also needed to validate the (revised) instrument in different Chinese samples.