Description

Background:
High parental monitoring is associated with a decreased risk of an adolescent engaging in sexual behavior. The following 6-item scale can be used to assess an adolescent’s perception of parental monitoring (Li et al., 2000). The authors carried out their analyses with a cross sectional design including three separate samples. This scale was originally developed as an 8-item scale by Steven Small and Donell Kerns (Small and Kerns, 1993), and was adapted for the study of Li et al.

.Developers:
Steven Small and Donell Kerns

Copyright:
Publisher: National Council on Family Relations

References:
Li, X., Feigelman, S., & Stanton, B. (2000). Perceived parental monitoring and health risk behaviors among urban low-income African-American children and adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 27, 43-48.

Small, S.A., & Kerns, D. (1993). Unwanted sexual activity among peers during early and middle adolescence: Incidence and risk factors. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 55, 941-952.

Reliability:
8-item scale (Small and Kerns, 1993):
Internal consistency: Cronbach alpha = 0.87)
6-item scale (Li et al., 2000):
Internal consistency: Cronbach alpha = 0.70 (1992), 0.77 (1994), 0.73 (1996)

Protective:
Parenting
Population:
Adolescent
Adult