Spanish Adaptation and Validation of the Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale

(1) Background: The aim of this study is to obtain an instrument, with robust psychometric properties validated with a Spanish sample, that allows for the evaluation of the emotional and behavioural adjustment of children, as well as the perceived ability of parents to manage their children’s problems. (2) Methods: Data from 2618 Spanish parents of 2–12-year-old children were used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale. In order to develop the intensity scale, exploratory and confirmatory analyses were carried out, and the reliability, validity, and invariance of the measurement model were estimated. (3) Results: A structure of 25 items grouped into two factors are shown, which allows for the evaluation of emotional and behavioural problems and children’s competencies. The model adjustment indicators were satisfactory. Favourable evidence was obtained for the reliability of the measurement model from two perspectives, internal consistency and composite reliability. The discriminant validity was satisfactory, as was the homogeneity of the measurement model based on child gender. Regarding the self-efficacy scale, confirmatory analysis procedures were also carried out, verifying a good factorial structure. (4) Conclusions: Results support a scale with robust psychometric properties that measure child adjustment and parent self-efficacy. The instrument can help to improve family effectiveness and be useful for schools and teachers to promote the well-being of children. The instrument could also be good to evaluate in special contexts, like custody evaluations in a legal or forensic context.

Insider Effects

Needs assessment generally refers to the identification of some need or problem to be addressed. The authors aim to demonstrate how empathy, when shaped by authentic affinity or involvement with an organization, can serve the needs assessment experience in a positive way. As part of the chapter, the authors describe their approach and highlight pertinent findings from the needs assessment, which focused on proactive opportunities to enhance outcomes in parent efficacy. The authors also detail accounts of participant experiences within the process, including their interactions with the practitioner and overall experience. Finally, the authors share practitioner reflections on the overall process.

Initial Validation of the Parent-Report Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale (CAPES) in a Chinese Cultural Context

This study aimed to validate a parent-report measure of child adjustment and parenting efficacy (Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale [CAPES]) in a Chinese cultural context. Six hundred and fifty Chinese parents in China participated in the study and completed a set of questionnaires including the CAPES, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC), and the Parenting and Family Adjustment Scales (PAFAS). The factorial, convergent, and concurrent validity as well as internal consistency were evaluated. The results provided support for a new 2-factor structure of child behavioral and emotional adjustment. The 1-factor structure of parenting efficacy was confirmed. The three constructs obtained satisfactory internal consistency. Moreover, the CAPES scores correlated significantly with the SDQ, PSOC, and PAFAS in the expected pattern, which indicated its excellent convergent and concurrent validity. Therefore, it is a promising measure, due to its brevity and comprehensiveness, with the first indications of satisfactory internal consistency and validity among Chinese parents. However, a revision of the instrument is needed to avoid the ordering effects of positive and negative items, and further hypothesis-driven research is also needed to validate the (revised) instrument in different Chinese samples.