Factor Structure of the Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale for Studies of Youths With Externalizing Behavior Problems

Joel T Nigg; Molly Nikolas; Torri Miller; S. Alexandra Burt; Kelly L Klump; Alexander von Eye

doi:10.1037/a0016564

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Factor Structure of the Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale for Studies of Youths With Externalizing Behavior Problems

Journal article

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Factor Structure of the Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale for Studies of Youths With Externalizing Behavior Problems

Joel T Nigg, Molly Nikolas, Torri Miller, S. Alexandra Burt, Kelly L Klump and Alexander von Eye

Psychological assessment, Vol.21(3), pp.450-456

09/2009

DOI: 10.1037/a0016564

PMCID: PMC2818811

PMID: 19719356

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/2818811View

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Abstract

The assessment of children's perception of marital conflict is an important area of research related to family relations, children's cognitions about self, and the development of psychopathology. The leading instrument in this domain is the Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale (CPIC; J. H. Grych, M. Seid, & F. D. Fincham, 1992 ). It has 48 items organized into 9 conceptual designed subscales, with reports of 3-factor higher order structure to the 9 subscales. However, the 3-factor solution does not capture all 9 subscales well. Further, items have never been subjected to factor analysis to evaluate the best fitting factor structure at the item level. Doing so is particularly important when bringing the scale into new populations such as children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or disruptive behavior disorders. In the present study, 2 samples of children (total N = 1,190; ages 6-18 years) completed the CPIC. An exploratory factor analysis in Sample 1 (from a clinical study of ADHD and non-ADHD youths) yielded 4 interpretable factors. A confirmatory factor analysis in Sample 2 (a population sample of twins) confirmed the generalizability of the solution with an acceptable fit, although 1 item was dropped. The final solution used 38 of the 48 items. The 4-factor solution captured a Conflict Properties factor, two appraisal factors labeled Threat to Self and Self-Blame, and a Triangulation/Stability factor that included elements of appraisal and content. The authors concluded that the item-based 4-factor solution to the CPIC is preferable to the 9-factor or 3-factor formulation.

ADHD

factor analysis

marital conflict

disruptive behavior

child perception

Details

Title: Subtitle: Factor Structure of the Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale for Studies of Youths With Externalizing Behavior Problems
Creators: Joel T Nigg - Department of Psychology, Michigan State University
Molly Nikolas - Department of Psychology, Michigan State University
Torri Miller - Department of Psychology, Michigan State University
S. Alexandra Burt - Department of Psychology, Michigan State University
Kelly L Klump - Department of Psychology, Michigan State University
Alexander von Eye - Department of Psychology, Michigan State University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Psychological assessment, Vol.21(3), pp.450-456
DOI: 10.1037/a0016564
PMID: 19719356
PMCID: PMC2818811
NLM abbreviation: Psychol Assess
ISSN: 1040-3590
eISSN: 1939-134X
Publisher: American Psychological Association
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health, award: R01-MH59105; DOI: 10.13039/100007709, name: Michigan State University, award: IRGP-04-232
Language: English
Date published: 09/2009
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Injury Prevention Research Center
Record Identifier: 9984213400202771

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