Measuring Parent Inferred Self-Concept of Preschoolers: Factor Structure of a New Scale

Abstract

PurposeParents often report that stuttering affects their preschooler's self-esteem and self-confidence, constructs that are subsumed under the overarching construct of self-concept. With a view to measuring self-concept before and after therapy with the least study burden on families, this study developed a parent version of the Self-Description Questionnaire for Preschoolers (SDQP) (Marsh et al., 2002). This report focuses on the construct validity of the scale with the addition of two new items. MethodParticipants were 104 parents of preschoolers (3;0 to 5;11) who were typically fluent. Items on the preschooler's version of the SDQP were converted to measure parent inferred self-concept and two items were added that measured a fear dimension that had not been included in the SDQP. The factor structure of the parent scale was analyzed using an exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation. ResultsA six factor structure with three factors that were consistent with earlier research (physical abilities, physical appearance, and peer relationships) and three new factors (child- and parent initiated parent relationship factors, and pre-academic skills) emerged. The Fear items loaded most strongly on the Child-initiated Parent Relationship factor but in a negative direction (-.637). The model accounted for 65% of the total variance compared to 66% when the fear items were excluded. DiscussionResults indicate that the Fear items did not represent a unique dimension but instead measured the construct underlying the Child-initiated Parent Relationship factor. This study is unique in its development of a parent inferred measure of preschooler's self-concept and in the addition of Fear items to the SDQP. The Fear items fit with the Shavelson et al. (1976) model of self-concept upon which the SDQP was based, represent a particular emotional state that was not previously included in the SDQP, and enhance the content validity of the scale.