Evaluating the Parentification Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties and Psychopathology Correlates

Abstract

The Parentification questionniare (PQ; Jurkovic and Thirkield in Parentification questionnaire, University Plaza, Atlanta, GA, 1998), developed to assess various levels of parentification retrospectively, is one of the most widely used instruments in the clinical and research literature base. Yet, despite its frequent use, no studies of which we are aware have examined the psychometric properties of this instrument. Thus, this study fills a gap in the literature by examining the psychometric properties of the PQ with a sample of 143 racially diverse college students. The data were subjected to exploratory analysis using principal component analysis. Varimax orthogonal rotations were applied to the analyses. The final results supported a three-component solution (although with fewer items), consistent with Jurkovic's three-factor multidimensional clinical framework for understanding parentification. We also examined the relations between the resultant scores of the PQ and scores from the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI; Derogatis in Derogatis Brief symptom inventory: Administration, scoring, and procedures manual, National Computer Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, 1993), which captures mental health symptomatology. These results reflected significant correlations in theoretically expected directions. However, taken together, the three PQ factors significantly accounted for the variance in psychopathology scores in only two of the four regression models. The preliminary results from this study support the reliability and multidimensional nature of the PQ scores. Implications for family therapy and suggestions for future family systems research are discussed.

Characteristics of Childhood Parentification and Its Effects on the Individual

“…Örneğin, Afrika kökenli Amerikalı genç yetişkinler, Avrupa kökenli Amerikalı yaşıtlarına göre daha fazla araçsal ebeveynleşme bildirmektedir. Bu tür rol ve sorumlulukları üstlenmenin daha normatif bir yaşam olayı olarak kabul edildiği kültürlerde, ebeveynleşmenin olumsuz etkileri de daha az olacaktır (East, 2010;Hooper ve Wallace, 2010;Manzi, Vignoles, Regalia ve Scabini, 2006;Telzer and Fuligni, 2009). Son olarak, ebeveynleşme türü de sonuçlar üzerinde etki göstermektedir; duygusal www.nesnedergisi.com ebeveynleşme, araçsal ebeveynleşmeye göre birey üzerinde daha olumsuz sonuçlar yaratmaktadır (Hooper 2008;Hooper ve Wallace, 2010) Belirtilen bağlamsal değişkenlerin yanı sıra, algılanan adalet kavramı (perceived fairness) da ebeveynleşmenin etkileri üzerinde en çok rol oynayan değişkenlerden biridir (Jurkovic, 1997).…”

“…Yazara göre ebeveynleşme süreci çocuk tarafından adil ve karşılıklı olarak algılanıyorsa, etkileri daha az şiddetli olacaktır. Araştırmacılar, algılanan adalet olgusunun, çocukluktaki ebeveynleşme yaşantıları ile ruhsal bozukluk arasındaki ilişkiyi düzenleyen en önemli değişken olduğunu bildirmektedir (Hooper ve Wallace, 2010;Jankowski, Hooper, Sandage ve Hannah, 2011). Algılanan adaletin yanı sıra, ebeveyn-çocuk ilişkisinden memnuniyet (McKenna, 1995), benliğin ayrışması , sosyal destek (Gilford, 2012) ve kontrol odağı (Williams ve Francis, 2010) gibi faktörlerin de ebeveynleşmenin olumlu ve olumsuz sonuçlar yaratmasını etkileyen aracı veya düzenleyici değişkenler olduğu dikkati çekmektedir.…”

Parentification – its direction and perceived benefits in terms of connections with late adolescents’ emotional regulation in the situation of marital conflict

“…Parentification may occur in emotional or instrumental form. Instrumental parentification refers to being concerned about family living conditions (Hooper et al, 2008;Hooper & Wallace, 2010;Schier, 2010;Hooper et al, 2011;Schier, 2014). It manifests in physical help that a child devotes to his or her family.…”

“…A situation which exceeds the child's capabilities and resources may result in various negative consequences such as substance abuse (Chase, 1998after: Hooper et al, 2008, mental disorders (Jones & Wells, 1996after: Hooper et al, 2008, difficulties in relationships (Valleau, 1995after: Hooper et al, 2008 and poor future parental skills (Boszormenyi-Nagy & Spark, 1973;Bowen, 1978;Chase, 1998after: Hooper et al, 2008. It is worth mentioning that another division is proposed by Hooper (2009;Hooper & Wallace, 2010) in the concept of her measure called Parentification Inventory. The method distinguishes to whom the parentified processes are directed (siblings or parents) and also includes a subscale which measures the perceived benefits of parentification.…”

Parentification in late adolescence and selected features of the family system

“…A child may also mediate in the conflicts between family members, care about ill members of the family, become a therapist and confidant for a parent or become a scapegoat in order to maintain homeostasis in the family system (Schier, 2010;Hooper et al, 2011b). Instrumental parentification refers to caring about the family living conditions (Hooper, 2008;Hooper & Wallace, 2010;Schier, 2010;Hooper et al, 2011;Schier, 2014). In manifests in manual work that a child performs for his family members.…”