Richard A. Fabes, Department of Family & Human Development, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-2502 (E-mail

Abstract

SUMMARY The Coping with Children's Negative Emotions Scale(CCNES) is an increasingly used self-report instrument consisting of six subscales that reflect different ways parents respond to their young children's negative emotions. However, psychometric testing of this scale has not been conducted. In two studies, we examine its psychometric properties. In the first study, 101 parents (mostly mothers) completed the CCNES and a variety of other scales. The results reveal that the CCNES is internally reliable and has sound test-retest reliability and construct validity. Factor analysis of the structure of the CCNES suggests that there may be only four rather than six subscales. In the second study, we examined the predictive validity of the CCNES to 36 children's emotional competence (decoding and expressiveness). The supportive subscales (positively) and parental distress (negatively) predicted children's decoding, whereas emotional encouragement (positively) and nonsupportive parenting (negatively) predicted children's expressiveness. It was concluded that the CCNES is a reliable and valid instrument and that further research and refinement of its use is needed.