Parenting Stress Index - Long Form

Computer-Assisted Interpretive Report

Developed By

Richard R. Abidin, EdD

and PAR Staff

Demographic Information
- Respondent -
Name : Sample L. Client

E
Client ID : 123456
Relationship to Child : Mother (or female caretaker)
Age :
PL 24
Birthdate : 01/24/1977
Ethnicity : (not specified)
- Child -
Name : Madison
M
Age : 4
Birthdate : 04/10/1997
Gender : Female
SA

Testing Information
Test Date : 01/09/2002
Test Description : Long Form
Referral Source : Dr. Rarick
Test Administrator : Susan

Caution: This report is designed to assist professionals in their interpretations of the results of
the Parenting Stress Index. The interpretations made should be viewed as hypotheses that need
collaboration from other data sources and the exercise of professional judgment. At no time
should this interpretive report be submitted to parents or to other professionals as the sole basis
for any clinical decisions regarding the management or treatment of clients or patients.

Psychological Assessments Australia

PO
PAR Box 27 Jannali
Psychological Assessment NSW 2226Inc. / 16204 N. Florida Ave. / Lutz, FL 33549 / Toll-Free 1-800-331-TEST
Resources,
Ph: (02)
PSI-SP™ 9589
Report 0011
Copyright Fax:
© 1992, 9589
1994, 1995,0063
1997, 2002 by Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc. All rights reserved. May not be
E: infopaa@psychassessments.com.au
reproduced in whole or in part in any form or by any means without written permission of Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.
www.psychassessments.com.au Version: 1.02 ( 1.00.009 )
Client: Sample L. Client Test Date: 01/09/2002
Client ID: 123456 Page 2 of 8

PSI Long Form Profile

%ile CHILD DOMAIN PARENT DOMAIN %ile
≥ 99 ≥ 99

95 95

90 90

85 85

80 80

75 75

70 70

E
65 65

60 PL 60

55 55

50 50

45 45
M
40 40

35 35
SA

30 30

25 25

20 20

15 15

10 10

5 5

≤1 ≤1
Scale: DI AD RE DE MO AC Child CO IS AT HE RO DP SP Parent Total LS
Raw: 37 39 24 30 14 18 162 45 22 19 14 28 28 26 182 344 8
Client: Sample L. Client Test Date: 01/09/2002
Client ID: 123456 Page 3 of 8

Score Summary
Defensive Responding Score = 57
Note: Defensive Responding is clinically significant when the score is 24 or less.

Raw Score Norms

Scale Raw Score Percentile
Mean SD
Total Stress 344 +++ ≥ 99 +++ 222.8 36.6
Child Domain 162 +++ ≥ 99 +++ 99.7 18.8
Distractibility/Hyperactivity (DI) 37 +++ ≥ 99 +++ 24.7 4.8
Adaptability (AD) 39 ≥ 99 24.9 5.7
Reinforces Parent (RE) 24 ≥ 99 9.4 2.9
Demandingness (DE) 30 +++ 95 +++ 18.3 4.6

E
Mood (MO) 14 95 9.7 2.9
Acceptability (AC) 18 95 12.6 3.5
Parent Domain PL 182 +++ 95 +++ 123.1 24.4
Competence (CO) 45 ≥ 99 29.1 6.0
Isolation (IS) 22 ≥ 99 12.6 3.7
Attachment (AT) 19 95 12.7 3.2
Health (HE) 14 75 11.7 3.4
M
Role Restriction (RO) 28 90 18.9 5.3
Depression (DP) 28 90 20.3 5.5
Spouse (SP) 26 +++ 95 +++ 16.9 5.1
SA

Life Stress (LS) 8 60 7.8 6.2

16 - 80 Percentile: Normal Range
81 - 84 Percentile: Borderline
85 - 99+ Percentile: Clinically Significant
+++ = Due to missing item data, this score was prorated. Interpret prorated scores with caution.

Validity of Protocol
The subscales DI, DE, and SP have been prorated due to a missing item.
Interpret prorated scores with caution.
This appears to be a valid protocol. (The parent's Defensive Responding score = 57.)

Interpretation of Protocol
This parent is in need of immediate professional assistance, and is probably overwhelmed by the
stressful characteristics of her child and her life situation.
The high level of stress this parent is experiencing appears to be a function of both her own
characteristics and those of her child. The child is probably very difficult for the parent to
Client: Sample L. Client Test Date: 01/09/2002
Client ID: 123456 Page 4 of 8

manage, and the possibility of child abuse and/or neglect exists. The parent sees the situation as
being beyond her ability to cope. In a few cases, profiles like this are produced by individuals
who are exaggerating, faking bad, or hysterical. Most commonly, however, the parent is
depressed, anxious, and overwhelmed.
Child neglect is most likely if abuse is occurring; however, other abuse is also possible.

Adaptability
This child appears to manifest behavioral characteristics that make the child very difficult to
manage. Specifically, the child is lacking in adaptability and plasticity; this results in
overreaction to changes in routine and problems in establishing schedules, followed by
perseveration in behavior. Problems in adjusting to strangers and resistance to the calming or
soothing efforts of the parent, once upset, are frequently present in the very young child.
These children are extremely frustrating to parents; the parents often feel rejected by and/or
punished by the child. In all likelihood, a minimally positive relationship exists between parent
and child.

E
Parents of children with major physical handicaps and children who are hyperactive frequently
earn scores in this range.

Acceptability
PL
The child's physical, intellectual, and/or emotional characteristics do not match those of the
parent's hoped-for child. In parents of younger children (below age 4), some working through of
loss needs to be done, while parents of older children will need help in setting constructive goals
and realistic expectations for their child.
M
There exists the real possibility that the parent has not bonded with the child and that this needs
to be an area of focus for professional intervention. The potential for child abuse or neglect is
heightened, and the likelihood exists that it will be difficult to engage the parent in a therapeutic
SA

program.
Child neglect is most likely if abuse is occurring; however, other abuse is also possible.

Demandingness
The child appears to place inordinate demands upon the parent for attention and assistance. In
young children, frequent crying or whining for things is common. These children often have
failed to negotiate the developmental task of individualization and self-regulation.

Mood
The general lack of positive affect is probably a noticeable feature in this child. Moderately
frequent episodes of crying, mild signs of depression, and general unhappiness are likely to be
present more often than in the average child. The diagnostic question is to separate the amount of
this characteristic that is a function of temperament from negative mood produced by situational
stimuli.

Distractibility/Hyperactivity
This child appears to be excessively active and has difficulty attending to directions. The short
attention span and distractibility are also associated with problems in compliance to directions
Client: Sample L. Client Test Date: 01/09/2002
Client ID: 123456 Page 5 of 8

and requests for cooperation. As a result of these behaviors, the parent is likely to feel
overwhelmed by the child. In older primaparous parents, the situation is often exacerbated and
parental expectations for mature, adult-like behavior are, occasionally, the basis of the problem.

Reinforces Parent
In interactions with the parent, the child presents in such a way that the parent does not feel
reinforced by the child. The absence of smiles and other positive behaviors emanating from the
child is likely to lead to the parent feeling rejected or unappreciated. There exists the possibility
that the parent cannot read the child correctly, but more often, the presence of depression or an
organic cause is more likely.
In this case depression would appear to be the likely cause.

Depression
This parent is experiencing some mild-to-moderate symptoms of depression and guilt, which at
times may impair her ability to handle her parenting responsibilities. The problems typically

E
associated with this level of depression include complaints of loss of energy and lack of follow-
through in limit-setting and discipline.
This depression and guilt may be reactive to the difficult characteristics of the child as opposed
PL
to the parent's characteristics or other situational variables.

Attachment
Problems in parental attachment are suggested. This parent does not appear to possess strong
feelings of emotional closeness to the child. The lack of emotional closeness is upsetting to this
M
parent.

Role Restriction
SA

The restriction on personal freedom, which occurs as a result of parenthood, appears to represent
a major source of frustration for this parent. This parent sees herself as being controlled and
dominated by her child's needs and demands. Concerns regarding loss of personal identity are
often expressed. Frequently, a strong undercurrent of resentment and anger generated by her
frustration will be evident and is perceived by the child as a double message in many of the
parent's communications. The interpretation of the restriction of parental role subscale of
severely handicapped children must be modified in the benign direction, particularly if the
Attachment score is below the 75th percentile.

Competence
This parent appears to be overwhelmed by the demands of the role of parent and she is lacking in
a sense of competence as to how to manage her child. Typically, this is associated with a lack of
knowledge of both child development and appropriate child management skills. Exceptions to
this are cases of children with ADHD or other severe handicapping conditions, where the child's
behavioral characteristics often exhaust the coping and management skills of otherwise
competent parents.
It is likely that this parent's self-esteem is damaged as a result of the stress she experiences in
trying to manage her active child.
Client: Sample L. Client Test Date: 01/09/2002
Client ID: 123456 Page 6 of 8

Isolation
Social isolation and the absence of normal social supports appear to be a major stressor for this
parent. The absence of emotional support from friends and relatives increases the likelihood of
dysfunctional parenting in the form of either enmeshment with her child or neglect.
The possibility of child abuse or neglect should be considered.

Spouse
Conflict within the parents' relationship is likely to be a major stressor. The primary conflict
probably involves the absence of emotional and material support by the other parent.
Occasionally, conflicts regarding child management strategies and approaches will be at the
heart of the problem. This is most often the case when the other parent has limited involvement
with the child.
This parent is distressed by the loss of intimacy and sharing with her partner.

Health

E
To some degree, this parent's effectiveness as a parent is undermined by her own health
problems. The magnitude of this stressor is moderate and is not likely to result in any
PL
dysfunctional parenting behaviors.

Life Stress
This parent did not endorse a significant number of major stressors outside of the parent-child
relationship, and this could be viewed as a positive factor in relation to the parent carrying out
M
her parenting responsibilities.

At Risk For Child Diagnosis:

SA

¾ Attachment Disorder
¾ Oppositional Defiant Disorder
¾ Physical abuse/Neglect

Follow-Up Questions
The parent's response to this item should be reviewed with her.
¾ My child is much more active than I expected. (Strongly Agree)

Recommendations
On the basis of this profile, the following recommendations should be considered:
An evaluation of the breadth of the child's oppositional behavior needs to be explored. Attention
needs to be given to the issue of whether the oppositional and negative child behaviors are
pervasive or reactive to parental child-management methods.
An evaluation of this parent's discipline methods and her level of awareness of her child's
physical and emotional needs should be conducted. While the potential for physical abuse and
neglect may exist, it must not be assumed to be present.
Client: Sample L. Client Test Date: 01/09/2002
Client ID: 123456 Page 7 of 8

This child should be assessed for the presence of a clinically significant childhood depression or
anxiety disorder.
This parent is in need of respite care.
The use of medication to deal with this child's activity level should be considered.
This child's parent should be given some guidance in learning how to read her child's behavior.
Keeping positive and negative critical incident logs or collecting observation data of different
categories of behavior should help the parent focus on the child.
Given this child's level of demandingness, the parents may profit from consultation on how to
extinguish negative behaviors.
This parent may be helped by an examination of the difference between her child and her
idealized or expected child. She needs to work through her hoped-for child. This exploration
should help her better understand her reactions to her child's behavior both overtly and
emotionally.
This parent is in need of professional assistance and is probably overwhelmed by the stressful

E
characteristics of both her child and her personal life circumstances.
The need for parenting-skills training and parent consultation should be presented to this parent
to build her sense of competence as a parent. (e.g., Parent-Child Interaction Therapy [1986] by S.
PL
Eyberg, Early Childhood Parenting Skills [1996] by R. R. Abidin, or S.O.S. Parent Training
[1985] by L. Clark)
The possible need for marital counseling should be raised with these parents, particularly in
relation to coordinating their parenting behaviors.
M
This parent needs immediate consultation and parent training regarding methods of child care
and discipline.
Joint parent consultation regarding child management approaches should be encouraged.
SA

The parent-child relationship is in need of repair. The use of guided play exercises should be
considered (e.g., Theraplay [1986] by A. M. Jernberg or Infant-Parent Psychotherapy [1993] by
A. F. Lieberman). The parent needs to see this child in a more positive light.
This parent appears socially isolated and needs assistance in building an emotional support
network.
The provision of respite care and intervention aimed at increasing this parent's social support
system are recommended.
An intervention which focuses on enhancing both the parents' self-esteem and parenting skills
should be developed.
Talk with this parent regarding her feelings of alienation from her child or of rejection by her
child.
Discuss with this parent the possible need of respite care for her child so that the parent's
personal needs are also met. This parent will need support to consider her needs as well as the
child's needs.
This parent needs guidance on how to cue and prestructure the child's response to transitions and
new situations. Teach the parent to use rehearsals to prepare her child to make the desired
response.
Client: Sample L. Client Test Date: 01/09/2002
Client ID: 123456 Page 8 of 8

End of Report

E
PL
M
SA