Which instrument is designed to identify dysfunctional parent–child systems and focus on high-stress areas to predict children's future psychosocial adjustment?

Which instrument is designed to identify dysfunctional parent–child systems and focus on high-stress areas to predict children's future psychosocial adjustment?

• A. DAS
• B. MSI-R
• C. Parenting Stress Index
• D. SCL-90-R

Answer: (C)

The Parenting Stress Index is built to identify how stress within the parent–child system affects functioning, zeroing in on high-stress areas that signal dysfunctional dynamics. By measuring parenting stress and the quality of the parent–child relationship, it helps predict how a child might fare in the future in terms of psychosocial adjustment. It captures both the parent’s experience and the child’s behavior within the family context, highlighting where intervention could reduce risk for adverse outcomes. Other instruments target different domains: the Dyadic Adjustment Scale focuses on marital satisfaction, not parenting and child outcomes; the MSI-R similarly concerns marital functioning; and the SCL-90-R assesses broad adult psychological symptoms.

The Parenting Stress Index is built to identify how stress within the parent–child system affects functioning, zeroing in on high-stress areas that signal dysfunctional dynamics. By measuring parenting stress and the quality of the parent–child relationship, it helps predict how a child might fare in the future in terms of psychosocial adjustment. It captures both the parent’s experience and the child’s behavior within the family context, highlighting where intervention could reduce risk for adverse outcomes.

Other instruments target different domains: the Dyadic Adjustment Scale focuses on marital satisfaction, not parenting and child outcomes; the MSI-R similarly concerns marital functioning; and the SCL-90-R assesses broad adult psychological symptoms.