Escala de avaliação da ansiedade e superprotecção parentais: estudo psicométrico numa amostra de pais e mães de crianças em idade escolar

Different theoretical models emphasize the role of parental control in the development of children's anxiety disorders. This literature has been criticized because of its lack of specific evaluation measures of different components of parental control and parental overprotection in particular. The main objective of this study was to develop a scale for the evaluation of Parental Anxiety and Overprotection (EASP). The sample consisted of 246 children (7-13 years old), who answered to SCARED-R to evaluate anxiety symptoms, and their parents (203 fathers and 243 mothers) who answered to EASP, SCARED-R and EMBU-P. The principal component analysis identified three components that are conceptually consistent with the proposed dimensions: (1) parental anxiety and worry; (2) parental overprotection; and (3) support of children's coping behaviors. The scale revealed good psychometric qualities: both content and construct validity, and adequate internal consistency of its different subscales.