Me as a Parent Scale

This scale may be useful when looking at both grouped and individual data, as it may give an indication of whether perceptions of parenting confidence have increased over the period of program implementation.

• When averaged for a group as a whole, the MaaPs may be useful as a measure of change in parenting self-regulation across time, for example as a pre-post measure in a parenting program.
• When working with individuals, a ‘low’ Pre score may indicate a need to pay particular attention to how the parent views their efforts to use the intervention strategies. For a parent with a ‘low’ score, drawing their attention to their strengths and how their efforts contribute to changes observed in their child could be helpful in building their sense of confidence.
• It is important to note that if parents’ scores are around the mean (average) at Pre, it is unlikely there will be major changes from Pre to Post.

Once the parent or carer has filled in the MaaPs scale, change the personal agency scores (MaaPs questions 1, 4, 9, 16) by reversing them. For example, if a person scores ‘1’ on question 1, change this to a ‘5’. Do this for all personal agency questions. These scores will now be the new scores to be added to the total score.

• 1 becomes 5
• 2 becomes 4
• 3 stays as 3
• 4 is 2
• 5 is 1.

Then add up the scores for every subscale separately. Use the MaaPs record sheet to record totals. Totals for each subscale can range from 4 to 20.

Lastly, add up the subscale scores to obtain a total MaaPs score. This total score should range from 16 to 80.

Based on a representative sample of Australian parents living in Victoria, Australia, in 2016 (N = 2535). Table 1 shows average scores on the MaaPs for a representative sample of Australian parents, depicting population norms (average) and standard deviations for parents of 0 to 2-year-olds, 3 to 5-year-olds, 6 to 12-year-olds, and parents of adolescents aged 13-18 years.

Table 1. MaaPs means and standard deviations in an Australian sample

Scores that are one standard deviation or more below the population mean may be viewed as a ‘low’ score and an indication that a parent has a lower than average perception of their parenting self-regulation compared to other parents. Table 2 depicts average and ‘low’ scores for parents by child age, while Table 3 depicts average and ‘low’ scores on parenting self-regulation subscales.

Table 2. Total MaaPs scores – mean (average) and ‘low’ scores

Table 3. MaaPs subscale scores – mean (average) and ‘low’ scores

Since its publication, the original MaaPs has received widespread interest and has been adapted for use in culturally diverse communities. To expand research and clinical opportunities for using this tool, and ensure accessibility to a wider range of communities, we now offer the MaaPs in the following translations:

• Arabic
• Burmese
• Dari
• Simplified Chinese
• Vietnamese.

MaaPs-SF may be useful as a measure of change in parenting self-efficacy across time, for example as a Pre-Post measure in a parenting program or in an evaluation of a service that offers parenting support. However, if parents’ scores are around the mean (average) at Pre it is unlikely there will be major changes from Pre to Post.

Although the MaaPs-SF will be used mostly for assessing aggregate (or group) changes in parent self-efficacy over time, it may also be useful to review scores of individual parents provided there is parent consent and the results are confidential. In this instance, a parent with a ‘low’ Pre score may be supported to focus on their parenting strengths, emphasising how their efforts can lead to observable changes in their child.

To get a total MaaPs-SF score, add up the scores for all four items. Total scores can range from 4 to 20. Higher scores indicate higher levels of parenting self-efficacy. To get an average score for a group, add up all total scores and divide by the number of respondents in the group.

To manually record scores on the MaaPs-SF over time, complete the MaaPs-SF record sheet.

Based on a representative sample of parents living in Victoria, Australia, in 2022, Table 1 depicts population norms (average scores) for the MaaPs-SF from a total sample of N = 2596.

Table 1. MaaPs-SF means and standard deviations in an Australian sample (2022)

Scores that are one standard deviation or more below the population mean may be viewed as a ‘low’ score, and an indication that a parent has a less than average perception of their parenting self-efficacy compared to other parents. Table 2 shows average and ‘low’ scores on parenting self-efficacy.

Table 2. MaaPs-SF means and standard deviations for parents of children in different age groups, in an Australian sample (2022)

Since its publication, the MaaPs-SF has received widespread interest and has been adapted for use in culturally diverse communities. To expand research and clinical opportunities for using this tool, and ensure accessibility to a wider range of communities, we now offer the MaaPs-SF in the following translations:

• Arabic
• Burmese
• Dari
• Simplified Chinese
• Vietnamese.