Assessing marital conflict from the child's perspective: the children's perception of interparental conflict scale.
Guided by Grych and Fincham's theoretical framework for investigating the relation between interparental conflict and child adjustment, a questionnaire was developed to assess children's views of several aspects of marital conflict. The Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale (CPIC) was initially examined in a sample of 222 9-12-year-old children, and results were cross-validated in a second sample of 144 similarly aged children. 3 factor analytically derived subscales (Conflict Properties, Threat, Self-Blame) demonstrated acceptable levels of internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The validity of the Conflict Properties scale was supported by significant relations with parent reports of conflict and indices of child adjustment; the Threat and Self-Blame scales correlated with children's responses to specific conflict vignettes. The CPIC thus appears to be a promising instrument for assessing perceived marital conflict, and several issues regarding its interpretation are discussed.
Grych
J H
JH
Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Champaign 61820.
Seid
M
M
Fincham
F D
FD
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D012649:Self Concept