Family factors in preschool assessment and intervention: A validity study of parenting stress and coping measures

Abstract The assessment of family variables is central to recent legislation related to special services for young children. This study examined the relationship between the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES) with low-socioeconomic-status caregivers of preschool children. Correlations revealed that the PSI and F-COPES measure relatively independent constructs. The findings also suggest that passive appraisal (inactive or passive coping strategies) is related more to parenting stress than other coping strategies. The combined effect of assessing parent and child functioning rather than one in isolation may assist in more effective identification of risk status.

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