Development and validation of the Greek version of the parental authority questionnaire

Abstract

Background: Researchers on parenting have constructed a variety of instruments for assessing parenting behavior an there are a number of measurements on parenting, which have demonstrated particular utility, such as Buri’s (1991) Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ). Although the PAQ has been used as a measure of parenting style in an extensive worldwide research, there is limited evidence on its applicability to various cultures. Aim: The present study aimed to assess the reliability and aspects of validity of the Greek versions of the PAQ. Method: The sample consisted of 150 Greek adults (n=150; F/M: 103/47; mean age: M=31.25, SD=11.03). The self-completed anonymous battery of questionnaires included general questionnaire and the following scales: PAQ, PBI, RSES. Participants were invited for a second administration of the PAQ after a 2-week interval. Results: The PAQ was found to be internally consistent for both assessments (Cronbach’s alpha test administration = .853 for mother’s authoritarianism, .803 for mother’s authoritativeness, .665 for mother’s permissiveness, .884 for father’s authoritarianism, .831 for father’s authoritativeness, and .740 for father’s permissiveness; Cronbach’s alpha retest administration = .886 for mother’s authoritarianism, .885 for mother’s authoritativeness, .791 for mother’s permissiveness, .914 for father’s authoritarianism, .869 for father’s authoritativeness, and .846 for father’s permissiveness) and with good test-retest reliability (.860 for mother’s authoritarianism, .887 for mother’s authoritativeness, .816 for mother’s permissiveness, .887 for father’s authoritarianism, .875 for father’s authoritativeness, and .870 for father’s permissiveness). It converged significantly with Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI; Parker, Tupling, & Brown, 1979), and results of the explanatory principal component factor analysis demonstrated that when an a priori three-factors solution and a varimax rotation were applied, a three-factor structure for PAQ in Greece was supported. Conclusion: Results from this study suggest that the current adaptation of the PAQ in Greek has good reliability and construct validity properties. Implications of findings and directions for further research are discussed.