Validation of the parenting style survey for parents of children with mental retardation.

A validation study was performed in order to assess the content, construct, and criterion-related validities of the Parenting Style Survey, an instrument assessing parental behavior in families with a child who has mental retardation. Subjects were the primary careproviders of 29 individuals with moderate mental retardation. Data corroborating the validity of the Parenting Style Survey were derived from home visits, individuals experienced in developmental psychology, careproviders for individuals with mental retardation, and the Family Environment Scale (Moos, 1974). The Parenting Style Survey is a reliable and valid measure of parenting behaviors for individuals who have a child with mental retardation living at home.