Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC)

Abstract

The Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC) is a widely utilized psychometric instrument designed to assess a parent’s self-perceptions regarding their effectiveness and fulfillment in the parenting role. Developed initially by Gibaud-Wallston and Wandersman (1978), the scale measures two distinct, yet related, dimensions of parental experience: Satisfaction and Efficacy. This self-report measure provides valuable data for clinical and research settings focused on understanding parental stress, adjustment to new parenthood, and the psychological factors underlying parent-child interactions.

Keywords

Parenting, Parental Competence, Parental Efficacy, Parental Satisfaction, Psychometrics, Child Rearing, Self-Esteem, Psychological Assessment

Authors

J. Gibaud-Wallston, L.P. Wandersman, C. Johnston, E.J. Mash

Purpose

The primary purpose of the PSOC is to provide a standardized, quantifiable measure of how competent and satisfied individuals feel in their role as parents. The scale aims to identify perceived difficulties, sources of frustration, and feelings of mastery or inadequacy associated with raising a child. It is particularly useful in research investigating transitions to parenthood, parental mental health, and the effectiveness of parenting interventions.

The instrument’s design allows researchers and clinicians to differentiate between a parent who feels skilled but unfulfilled (high efficacy, low satisfaction) and a parent who enjoys the role but lacks confidence in their abilities (high satisfaction, low efficacy), offering a nuanced understanding of the parent’s psychological experience.

Construct

The PSOC measures two primary, theoretically distinct constructs related to parental functioning:

• Efficacy: Defined as the person’s perceived competence, skill, and ability in the parenting role. This dimension reflects the parent’s belief that they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to manage the challenges of raising a child and influence positive outcomes.

• Satisfaction: Defined as the person’s liking of the parenting role. This dimension reflects the emotional rewards, fulfillment, and general enjoyment derived from being a parent, contrasting with feelings of frustration or anxiety.

These constructs are rooted in social learning theory and self-esteem concepts, recognizing that a parent’s subjective feeling of control and reward significantly impacts their behavior and overall well-being. High scores on both subscales are generally indicative of a well-adjusted and confident parent.

Validity

The validity of the PSOC has been extensively examined since its initial development. Johnston and Mash (1989) provided crucial evidence supporting the scale’s ability to measure two distinct factors—Efficacy and Satisfaction—demonstrating strong construct validity. Subsequent research, such as the study by Ohan, Leung, and Johnston (2000), confirmed the stability of this two-factor structure across different samples, reinforcing the scale’s theoretical foundation.

The PSOC has shown good predictive validity, correlating negatively with measures of parenting stress and child behavior problems, and positively with parental self-esteem and adaptive coping mechanisms. This demonstrates that the scale accurately captures meaningful psychological variance related to parental adjustment.

Reliability

The PSOC generally demonstrates strong internal consistency, confirming its reliability across various studies. The Efficacy subscale and the Satisfaction subscale typically yield high Cronbach’s alpha coefficients (often exceeding 0.70 and sometimes reaching 0.85 or higher), indicating that the items within each subscale reliably measure their intended construct. Test-retest reliability has also been established, suggesting that the scale provides stable measurements of parental self-perception over time, particularly when parenting circumstances remain constant.

Factor Analysis

Initial exploratory and confirmatory Factor Analysis conducted by Johnston and Mash (1989) established the dominant two-factor structure of the PSOC. This finding was vital, as it refined the original concept developed by Gibaud-Wallston and Wandersman (1978). The two factors—Efficacy and Satisfaction—are consistently isolated through factor analytic techniques, confirming that the scale is not measuring a single, global construct of competence but rather two separable components of the parental experience.

The 2000 study by Ohan, Leung, and Johnston further reinforced this evidence, providing strong support for the stability and consistency of the two-factor model across diverse parental populations, making the PSOC a robust tool for measuring these specific dimensions of parental self-perception.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Questionnaire

Format: 17 items rated on a 6-point Likert Scale.

Language Available: Primarily English; translations are available and used in various international studies.

Population Group: Parents (Mothers and Fathers)

Age Group: Adults (Parents of infants, children, and adolescents)

Population Details: Originally validated on new parents, but commonly used across the lifespan of parents, addressing individuals caring for babies, children, or adolescents.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement with each statement using the following 6-point scale:

• 6 = Strongly Agree

• 5 = Somewhat Agree

• 4 = Agree

• 3 = Disagree

• 2 = Somewhat Disagree

• 1 = Strongly Disagree

Note: Items 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, and 16 are reverse coded during scoring to maintain consistency across the two subscales.

Keywords

Parenting Self-Efficacy, Parental Roles, Clinical Child Psychology, Assessment Tools, Role Fulfillment, Self-Perception

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not specified in source material.

Correspondence Address: Not specified in source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The initial development and publication of the PSOC occurred in 1978 by Gibaud-Wallston and Wandersman. A significant refinement and validation occurred in 1989 by Johnston and Mash. The scale is frequently used in academic research and clinical practice. Permissions for use often depend on the specific version and context, but the instrument is generally accessible for non-commercial research purposes. Fees for commercial or large-scale institutional use should be confirmed with the respective copyright holders or descendants.

Reference’s

The original PDF of the instrument can be downloaded here: http://www.bris.ac.uk/media-library/sites/sps/documents/c-change/parenting-sense-of-competence-scale.pdf

• Gibaud-Wallston, J. (1978, July). Self-esteem and situational stress: Factors related to sense of competence in new parents. Dissertation Abstracts International, 39(1-B).

• Gibaud-Wallston, J., & Wandersman, L.P. (1978, August). Development and utility of the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Canada.

• Johnston, C., & Mash, E.J. (1989). A measures of parenting satisfaction and efficacy. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 18, 167-175.

• Ohan, J. L., Leung, D. W., Johnston, C. (2000). The Parenting Sense of Competence Scale: Evidence of a Stable Factor Structure and Validity. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, Vol 32(4), 251-261.

• Gibaud-Wallston & Wandersman, 1978; Johnston & Mash, 1989. Parenting Sense of Competence Scale. In: Simmons C. A., Lehmann P. (eds). Tools for strengths-based assessment and evaluation, New York, NY: Springer, pp. 433-435. (2013). Google Scholar

Items of the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC)

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

1. The problems of taking care of a [baby/child] are easy to solve once you know how your actions affect your [baby/child]‚ an understanding I have acquired.

2. Even though being a parent could be rewarding‚ I am frustrated now while my child is at his/her present age.

3. I go to bed the same way I wake up in the morning—feeling I have not accomplished a whole lot.

4. I do not know what it is‚ but sometimes when I’m supposed to be in control‚ I feel more like the one being manipulated.

5. My [mother/father] was better prepared to be a good [mother/father] than I am.

6. I would make a fi ne model for a new [mother/father] to follow in order to learn what she would need to know in order to be a good parent.

7. Being a parent is manageable‚ and any problems are easily solved.

8. A difficult problem in being a parent is not knowing whether you’re doing a good job or a bad one.

9. Sometimes I feel like I’m not getting anything done.

10. I meet my own personal expectations for expertise in caring for my [baby/child].

11. If anyone can find the answer to what is troubling my [baby/child]‚ I am the one.

12. My talents and interests are in other areas‚ not in being a parent.

13. Considering how long I’ve been a mother‚ I feel thoroughly familiar with this role.

14. If being a [mother/father] of [an infant/a child] were only more interesting‚ I would be motivated to do a better job as a parent.

15. I honestly believe I have all the skills necessary to be a good mother to my [baby/child].

16. Being a parent makes me tense and anxious.

17. Being a good [mother/father] is a reward in itself.