Index of Parental Attitudes (IPA)

Abstract

The Index of Parental Attitudes (IPA) is a widely utilized psychometric instrument designed to measure the affective quality of the relationship between a parent and their child. Developed primarily by Walter W. Hudson, the IPA quantifies the degree of positive or negative feelings, satisfaction, or dissatisfaction experienced by the parent regarding their child and the parenting role. It is a critical tool in clinical practice and social service research for assessing potential parent-child relationship disorders, emotional distress, and the overall quality of family functioning.

Keywords

Index of Parental Attitudes, IPA, Parental Attitudes, Parent-Child Relationship, Relationship Satisfaction, Clinical Assessment, Child Welfare, Emotional Distress, Hudson Scale.

Authors

Walter W. Hudson, B. Wung, M. Borges

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Index of Parental Attitudes (IPA) is to provide a rapid, reliable, and valid measure of a parent’s subjective evaluation of their child and the resulting relationship. By assessing the frequency and intensity of positive and negative feelings—ranging from love and pride to resentment and irritation—the scale aids clinicians in identifying the severity of parent-child relationship dysfunction.

The IPA is particularly useful in screening situations where parental stress, conflict, or potential neglect are suspected. It helps to establish a baseline measure of parental satisfaction, allowing practitioners to track changes over time, especially following therapeutic interventions aimed at improving the parent-child bond.

Construct

The IPA measures the construct of Parental Attitudes, which is defined as the emotional and subjective orientation of a parent toward their child. This construct is generally viewed as existing along a single continuum, spanning from extreme positive affect and high satisfaction (e.g., enjoyment, pride, liking) to extreme negative affect and high dissatisfaction (e.g., resentment, hatred, irritation).

The scale focuses specifically on the parent’s current feelings rather than objective parenting behaviors. High scores on the IPA indicate significant levels of parental distress and negative attitudes, suggesting a strained or potentially harmful parent-child relationship, often referred to in the literature as a parent-child relationship disorder.

Validity

The validity of the IPA has been supported through its extensive use in clinical and academic settings since its development. It demonstrates strong content validity, as the items directly reflect common emotional responses associated with parental satisfaction and dissatisfaction, derived from clinical observations and literature on parent-child relationships.

Studies have supported the IPA’s construct validity through correlations with other measures of family functioning, parental stress, and child behavior problems. Specifically, scores on the IPA typically correlate negatively with measures of positive family interaction and positively with indicators of psychological distress in both the parent and the child, affirming its utility in assessing relationship quality.

Reliability

The IPA is known for its robust psychometric properties, particularly its high internal consistency. Measures of internal reliability, such as Cronbach’s alpha, consistently exceed acceptable thresholds (often reported above .90), indicating that the 25 items reliably measure the single underlying construct of parental attitude.

Test-retest reliability has also been established, suggesting that the scale provides stable measurements of parental attitudes over short periods, making it a reliable instrument for repeated administration in therapeutic contexts to gauge treatment effectiveness.

Factor Analysis

The Index of Parental Attitudes (IPA) is typically conceptualized and scored as a unidimensional scale. Factor analytic studies generally support a single, dominant factor representing overall parental satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the child. This interpretation aligns with the instrument’s design goal: providing a global measure of the affective quality of the parent-child relationship rather than separate sub-dimensions of specific behaviors or emotions.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report scale; summated rating scale.

Format: 25 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale.

Language Available: Primarily English (as developed by WALMYR).

Population Group: Parents or primary caregivers.

Age Group: Adults (parents of children of any age, though often focused on minors).

Population Details: Used with clinical, non-clinical, and research populations seeking to assess the parent-child relationship.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate the frequency with which they experience each statement, using the following scale:

• 1 = None of the time
• 2 = Very rarely
• 3 = A little of the time
• 4 = Some of the time
• 5 = A good part of the time
• 6 = Most of the time
• 7 = All of the time

Items 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 21, and 24 are reverse-scored to ensure that a higher total score consistently reflects greater parental dissatisfaction or negative attitudes toward the child.

Keywords

Unidimensional Scale, Affective Measurement, Parent-Child Conflict, Hudson, WALMYR, Psychometrics, Clinical Practice, Family Assessment.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not publicly available for all original authors.

Affiliation Email addresses: Information generally managed by WALMYR Publishing Company.

Correspondence Address: Information generally managed by WALMYR Publishing Company.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Index of Parental Attitudes (IPA) was initially developed and published around 1980, with continued management and distribution handled by the WALMYR Publishing Company. Use of the scale, particularly in clinical or commercial settings, typically requires adherence to their licensing and fee structure. The instrument is featured in widely used sourcebooks for assessment tools, confirming its status as a standardized measure.

Reference’s

The instrument is available through WALMYR Publishing Company: https://www.walmyr.com/famscales.html. The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://www.moray.gov.uk/downloads/file93379.doc.

• Hudson, W. W., Wung, B., & Borges, M. (1980). Parent-child relationship disorders: The parent’s point of view. Journal of Social Service Research, 3, 283-294. Google Scholar, Crossref
• Hudson W. The WALMYR assessment scales scoring manual. WALMYR Publishing Company; Tallahassee‚ FL: 1992. Index of parental attitudes.
• Hudson‚ W. W. (1997). Index of Parental Attitudes (IPA). In Fischer‚ Joel.‚ Corcoran‚ Kevin J. (2007 ). Measures for Clinical Practice and research: A sourcebook. (4th ed.). NY. Oxford University Pr. Vol. 1‚ Page (s): 353-354.

Items of the Index of Parental Attitudes (IPA)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. My child gets on my nerves.
2. I get along well with my child
3. I feel that I can really trust my child
4. I dislike my child.
5. My child is well behaved.
6. My child is too demanding.
7. I wish I did not have this child
8. I really enjoy my child.
9. I have a hard time controlling my child.
10. My child interferes with my activities
11. I resent my child.
12. I think my child is terrific.
13. I hate my child.
14. I am very patient with my child.
15. I really like my child.
16. I like being with my child.
17. I feel I do not love my child.
18. My child is irritating.
19. I feel very angry towards my child.
20. I feel violent towards my child.
21. I feel very proud of my child.
22. I wish my child was more like others I know.
23. I just do not understand my child.
24. My child is a real joy to me.
25. I feel ashamed of my child.

Scoring Key Reminder: Reverse score items 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 21, and 24.