Description

The Parenting Stress Index (PSI-23) is a psychometric instrument designed to assess the level of stress experienced by parents in relation to their parenting role. It is widely used to identify factors associated with parental stress and to examine its impact on the parent–child relationship. The questionnaire includes statements evaluating child characteristics, parent characteristics, and external factors that may influence family functioning.

The PSI-23 focuses on understanding the interaction between parental characteristics, child-related factors, and environmental conditions that may contribute to parenting stress.

Objective

The main objective of the PSI-23 is to identify the level of stress experienced within the parenting role and to examine how this stress affects the quality of the parent–child relationship.

The scale can be used for both clinical and research purposes, including the identification of potential risks related to attachment difficulties, family problems, and the evaluation of interventions designed to support parents.

Structure and Content

The PSI-23 evaluates different sources of parental stress, including:

Child-related characteristics, such as behavioural difficulties, demandingness, or challenges in daily interactions.

Parent-related characteristics, such as self-esteem, emotional difficulties, and psychological burden.

Stressful life conditions, which may influence family dynamics and parenting experiences.

Scoring Method

The PSI-23 items are rated using a five-point Likert scale, typically ranging from:

Strongly Agree

to

Strongly Disagree.

Responses are grouped into different factors or subscales, and a total score is calculated to represent the overall level of parenting stress. Established interpretation criteria are available depending on the reference population.

Higher scores indicate increased parental stress and greater difficulties associated with parenting demands.

Data Analysis and Use

The analysis of PSI-23 results is based on both subscale scores and total scores. High scores indicate significant levels of parental stress and may suggest the need for further assessment or intervention.

The questionnaire is frequently used in:

clinical psychology,

child psychiatry,

family counselling,

and social work settings.

It is also an important research tool for examining relationships between parental stress, parenting behaviour, and child development.

Validity

The PSI demonstrates high construct and content validity. Research has shown positive correlations with other measures of stress, depression, and parental satisfaction. The instrument has been successfully applied across different population groups, including parents of children with developmental difficulties, mental health conditions, or physical illnesses.

Reliability

The PSI demonstrates strong internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.70 to 0.95, depending on the subscale and sample characteristics. Test–retest reliability is also satisfactory, while the structure of the instrument remains stable across different cultural adaptations and translations.

References

Abidin, R. R. (1995). Parenting Stress Index (3rd ed.). Psychological Assessment Resources.

Abidin, R. R. (2013). The forensic uses and limitations of the Parenting Stress Index. In R. C. Morgan (Ed.), Evaluation for Child Custody (pp. 346–379). Oxford University Press.