Construction and initial validation of the parenting regulatory focus scale

• Published date: 01 July 2022
• Author: Xiang Zhou,Richard M. Lee,Alisha Wackerle‐Hollman,LeAnn Johnson,Keri Pinna
• Date: 01 July 2022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12668

RESEARCH

Construction and initial validation of the parenting

regulatory focus scale

Xiang Zhou

1

|Richard M. Lee

2

|Alisha Wackerle-Hollman

3

|

LeAnn Johnson

3

|Keri Pinna

4

1

Department of Educational Studies, Purdue

University, West Lafayette, Indiana,

United States

2

Department of Psychology, University of

Minnesota–Twin Cities, Minneapolis,

Minnesota, United States

3

Department of Educational Psychology,

University of Minnesota–Twin Cities,

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

4

Institute of Child Development, University of

Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis,

Minnesota, United States

Correspondence

Xiang Zhou, Beering Hall 5174,

100 N. University Street, West Lafayette, IN

47901, USA.

Email: xiangzhou@purdue.edu

Funding information

University of Minnesota

Abstract

Objective: We present parenting regulatory focus as a

theoretical framework to understand parenting goal moti-

vations and describe the development and validation of a

16-item Parenting Regulatory Focus Scale.

Background: Most parenting research is focused on parent-

ing behaviors, but it is also important to understand the

goal motivations behind parental approaches to raising

children.

Method: We used two independent samples (N

1

=856;

N

2

=497) to validate the Parenting Regulatory Focus

Scale as a two-factor structure composed of promotion-

and prevention-based parenting regulatory focus. Across

two studies, we tested the construct validity of the Parent-

ing Regulatory Focus Scale through correlations with gen-

eral regulatory focus, parents’personality traits, child

temperament, parenting styles and behaviors, and child

adjustment.

Results: The scale scores demonstrated good internal reli-

abilities (αs=.86–.91), as well as 2-week (α

promotion

=.65,

α

prevention

=.77) and 6-month test–rest reliabilities

(α

promotion

=.61,α

prevention

=.66). Path analysis supported

the relationship between parenting regulatory focus and

child adjustment as mediated by parenting styles and

behaviors.

Conclusions and Implications: The Parenting Regulatory

Focus Scale is a promising tool that can contribute to par-

enting research and tailoring of parenting interventions.

KEYWORDS

parenting, parenting styles and behaviors, regulatory focus, scale

construction

Received: 9 December 2020Revised: 13 September 2021Accepted: 26 September 2021

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12668

© 2022 National Council on Family Relations.

Family Relations. 2022;71:1081–1101. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare 1081

Parenting research has focused mainly on parenting styles and behaviors (Baumrind, 1966;

Dishion & McMahon, 1998; Morris et al., 2013), but limited attention has been given to what

motivates parents to raise their children in the manner that they do (Belsky, 1984; Bugental &

Johnston, 2000; Jungert et al., 2015; Sigel & McGillicuddy-De Lisi, 2002). Understanding par-

enting motivation provides insight into what and why parenting behaviors are emphasized and

employed (van Aar et al., 2021). Family researchers and clinicians also can use these insights to

help parents learn new child-rearing skills that align with their parenting motivations. Some

parenting interventions already address parenting motivations to facilitate behavior change.

Family Check-Up, for instance, uses motivational interviewing techniques to assess parental

strengths and challenges related to parenting and uses this knowledge to motivate parents to

improve their parenting behaviors (Dishion et al., 2003). Despite its centrality to understand

and improve parenting and parent–child relationships, there are few measurement tools avail-

able to assess parenting motivations. We drew upon regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997)to

develop and validate a new measure of parenting regulatory focus to understand parenting

motivations.

REGULATORY FOCUS THEORY

Regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997) proposes two distinct motivations—promotion and

prevention regulatory foci—behind all goal-oriented behaviors. We posit these same motivation

and value systems guide how parents raise their children. Behaviors intended to promote or pre-

vent a particular outcome are motivated by the reference points of gain–nongain or loss–non-

loss, respectively. People also are motivated by either internal values (e.g., achieving important

aspirations, ideals, and ambition) that align with a promotion regulatory focus or external/

socially based values (e.g., fulfilling obligations, duties, and responsibilities) that align with a

prevention regulatory focus. For example, people can take different approaches toward prepar-

ing for the birth of a child. Individuals with a promotion regulatory focus may be more inclined

to engage in activities that lead to the goal of a successful birth (e.g., joining a pregnancy group

for new mothers), as this aligns with their ideals and ambition; whereas individuals with a pre-

vention regulatory focus may be more inclined to refrain from activities that do not lead to the

goal of a successful birth (e.g., not engaging in high-risk physical activity), as this aligns with

their sense of obligation and responsibility.

Regulatory focus theory has been widely applied to understand a range of human behaviors,

such as sales negotiations (Appelt & Higgins, 2010), occupational behaviors (Lanaj

et al., 2012), and health behaviors (Adams et al., 2011). In these studies, promotion and preven-

tion regulatory foci are conceived as related but independent constructs; they are correlated

dimensions rather than two ends of a single dimension (Higgins, 1997). The adoption of both,

either, or neither of the dimensions has unique effects on subsequent behaviors in given

domains. Regulatory focus also explains the relationship between an individual’s personality

traits and actual behavior. Lanaj et al. (2012), for example, found personality traits were related

to work behaviors via both general and work-specific regulatory foci. In short, regulatory focus

theory can be adapted to understand domain or context-specific behaviors.

Regulatory focus theory has been applied to parenting, though research is limited (Eiser

et al., 2002; Keller, 2008; van Aar et al., 2021). The lack of research on regulatory focus in par-

enting is somewhat surprising since parenting is theorized to be a critical component in under-

standing the socialization of regulatory focus (Higgins & Silberman, 1998). In one of the

earliest studies that applied regulatory focus theory to parenting, Eiser et al. (2002) coded inter-

views with mothers of childhood cancer survivors in promotion-focused (e.g., “you feel poorly,

but it will make you feel better”) or prevention-focused parenting (e.g., “we tell him, if he

doesn’t take it, it will come back”). They found that despite parents’greater frequency in using

1082 FAMILY RELATIONS