Parental Attitudes Toward Antisocial Behavior – Seattle Social Development Project
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About Parental Attitudes Toward Antisocial Behavior – Seattle Social Development Project
Scale Name
Parental Attitudes Toward Antisocial Behavior – Seattle Social Development Project
Author Details
Michael W. Arthur, J. David Hawkins, John A. Pollard, Richard F. Catalano, and A. J. Baglioni Jr. (2002)
Translation Availability
English

Background/Description
The Parental Attitudes Toward Antisocial Behavior – Seattle Social Development Project, developed by Michael W. Arthur, J. David Hawkins, John A. Pollard, Richard F. Catalano, and A. J. Baglioni Jr. in 2002, is a youth-report questionnaire designed to measure youths’ perceptions of how their parents would feel if they engaged in antisocial behaviors such as stealing, drawing graffiti, or picking a fight with someone. Targeting students aged 11-18 (grades 6-12), the scale was part of the Seattle Social Development Project, a longitudinal study focused on identifying risk and protective factors for youth problem behaviors. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005), it aligns with social development theory (Hawkins & Weis, 1985), assessing how perceived parental disapproval of antisocial behavior influences youth conduct.
The scale comprises 3 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = “very wrong” to 4 = “not wrong at all”). Examples include “How wrong would your parents feel it is for you to steal something?” and “How wrong would your parents feel it is for you to pick a fight with someone?” Scores are summed (range: 3-12), with higher scores indicating more permissive parental attitudes. Validated in urban and diverse samples, it is used to assess parental influence, predict antisocial behavior, and inform prevention programs.
Psychologists, educators, and public health researchers use the scale to evaluate parental attitudes as perceived by youth, design delinquency prevention interventions, and study protective factors. Its brevity and acceptable reliability are strengths, though its limited item count, youth-only perspective, and English-only availability may restrict comprehensive assessment and cross-cultural use.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths or Seattle Social Development Project publications, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses perceptions of parental attitudes toward antisocial behavior to support positive development, emphasizing anonymity and using age-appropriate, non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to rate their parents’ disapproval of specific antisocial behaviors, using the 4-point scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 1-2 minutes, given the 3-item format.
- Administer in a classroom or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration may be used for students with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Parental Attitudes Toward Antisocial Behavior – Seattle Social Development Project demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties, as reported in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is adequate, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.70, indicating reasonable item cohesion despite the small number of items. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate based on similar attitudinal measures (r ≈ 0.60-0.80 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as reduced antisocial behavior for perceived parental disapproval (r ≈ -0.20 to -0.40) and family bonding (r ≈ 0.20-0.40). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict antisocial behavior outcomes in longitudinal studies. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s unidimensional focus supports construct validity. The acceptable reliability supports its use, though pairing with parent-reported measures (e.g., Family Relationship Characteristics, Tolan et al., 1997) can enhance accuracy.
Available Versions
03-Items
Reference
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Parental Attitudes Toward Antisocial Behavior – Seattle Social Development Project measure?
It measures youths’ perceptions of parental attitudes toward stealing, graffiti, and fighting.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, educators, and researchers studying students aged 11-18.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 1-2 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets urban students aged 11-18.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, it supports delinquency prevention with acceptable reliability (α = 0.70).
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