Authorithative and authoritarian parenting style and their dimensions: first contribution to the Italian adaptation of a self-report instrument

Introduction:Family experiences play an important role in influencing children development and in predicting their behavioral outcomes. Methods : We were interested in measuring dimensions of two parenting styles – authoritative and authoritarian styles – that have been widely claimed to have significant consequences for children’ s development. We proposed a modified Italian version of the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire( PSDQ , Robinson et al., 2001) composed of 16 items: 6 concerning the authoritative style and 10 concerning the authoritarian style.Five hundred and eighty-two families, two parents and a preschool child aged from 2 to 5 years or a primary school child aged from 6 to 10 years, participated in the study. In order to contribute to the Italian adaptation of the PSDQ, a confirmatory analysis has been used for mothers’ and fathers’ versions. Results: The study essentially confirms the validity of the Italian version of the PSDQ, allowing to assess both the two parenting styles considered ( Authoritativeand Authoritarian ) and some of their stylistic dimensions (Regulation-reasoning, Autonomy ranting-democratic participation, Verbal hostility , Physical coercition,Directiveness). Conclusions: The revised instrument helps to fill the lack, for parents of young children pre school and/or school-age), of selfreport measures of parenting addressed to the assessment of specific parenting constructs.