Validation of the parenting sense of competence scale in fathers: Thai version

Abstract

The role of the parent is a significant family factor that can impact the child cognitively, emotionally, and socially. Strengthening parents' competence improves their performance as parents. This study is the development and validation of the Thai Parenting Sense of Competence scale (Thai PSOC scale) for assessing the parenting competence of Thai fathers. The Thai PSOC scale was revised from the PSOC scale developed by Gibaud-Wallston and Wandersman (1978). The scale consists of 17 items with 2 subscales: skill/knowledge (8 items) and valuing/comfort (9 items). The scale was tested with 195 Thai fathers-to-be/fathers. The results showed high internal consistency: 0.78 for the total scale and 0.73 and 0.80 for the skill/knowledge and valuing/comfort subscales, respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) led to a revision of the Thai PSOC scale with better goodness of fit indices for the sample. In the revised scale with Item 17 was omitted, several goodness of fit indices improved significantly with a more acceptable, good fit (χ2/df=1.63; RMSEA=0.06; GFI=0.91; AGFI=0.88; NFI=0.80; TLI=0.90; CFI=0.91). With revision, the Thai PSOC scale is a potential instrument to measure parenting competence in Thai fathers.