Description

The Perceptions of Parents Scales – Child version (AQ-22) is a self-report instrument designed to assess children’s perceptions of their parents’ behaviors, particularly focusing on their involvement, support, and autonomy. It helps to understand the quality of parenting from the child’s perspective and can be used in psychological studies related to parental influence on child development.

The AQ-22 consists of several items (usually around 22) that reflect different aspects of parental behavior, and children respond to these items on a Likert scale. The items are usually grouped into subscales, representing dimensions such as autonomy support, parental involvement, and warmth.

Data Analysis and Use

To analyze data from the AQ-22, researchers typically:

Reliability Analysis: Check the internal consistency of the scales using Cronbach’s Alpha to ensure the items within the scale are measuring the same underlying constructs.

Factor Analysis: Perform exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis (EFA or CFA) to validate the factor structure of the scale. This helps to confirm whether the expected subscales (e.g., autonomy support, involvement) are reflected in the data.

Descriptive Statistics: Analyze means, standard deviations, and score distributions to understand the general trends in children’s perceptions.

Correlation and Regression Analysis: Investigate relationships between children’s perceptions of their parents and various outcomes (e.g., academic achievement, well-being, or behavioral problems). Multiple regression can be used to predict outcomes based on perceived parenting behaviors.

Group Comparisons: Use t-tests or ANOVA to compare different groups (e.g., boys vs. girls, age groups) regarding their perceptions of parents.

Purpose

The primary purpose of using the AQ-22 is to:

Assess parental influence: Understand how children perceive their parents’ behavior and the potential effects on their psychological development.

Predict developmental outcomes: Use children’s perceptions to predict outcomes such as emotional regulation, self-esteem, academic motivation, and mental health.

Intervene in family dynamics: Identify areas where parental behaviors may need adjustment to promote healthier development in children.

Calibration

Calibration of the AQ-22 involves ensuring that the scale measures parental perceptions consistently across different contexts and populations. Researchers may:

Standardize the Scale: By collecting data from a large, representative sample, norms can be established for different age groups and cultural backgrounds.

Test-Retest Reliability: Administer the scale at two different time points to assess its stability over time.

Validity: Ensure the scale’s content and construct validity by comparing it to other established measures of parenting or psychological well-being.

Bibliography

Below are key references and studies that have used or discussed the AQ-22 or similar scales related to children’s perceptions of parenting:

Grolnick, W. S., Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1997). Internalization within the family: The self-determination theory perspective. In Grusec, J. E., & Kuczynski, L. (Eds.), Parenting and children’s internalization of values: A handbook of contemporary theory (pp. 135–161). Wiley.

This book chapter provides a foundational understanding of how self-determination theory (SDT) informs the development of scales like AQ-22. It explains the importance of autonomy support, involvement, and warmth in parenting.

Grolnick, W. S., & Ryan, R. M. (1989). Parent styles associated with children’s self-regulation and competence in school. Journal of Educational Psychology, 81(2), 143–154.

This study looks at how different parenting styles influence children’s self-regulation and competence, which directly relates to what the AQ-22 aims to measure.

Silk, J. S., Steinberg, L., & Morris, A. S. (2003). Adolescents’ emotion regulation in daily life: Links to depressive symptoms and problem behavior. Child Development, 74(6), 1869–1880.

This research discusses how parental support (as measured by instruments like AQ-22) can influence emotional regulation and outcomes like depression in adolescents.

Farkas, A. S., & Grolnick, W. S. (2010). Examining the components and predictors of parental control. Journal of Family Psychology, 24(5), 585–594.

A study that explores how different components of parental control, such as autonomy support, influence children’s outcomes, providing insights into how AQ-22 data might be analyzed.