Examining the psychometric properties of the Rowlands Parental Alienation Scale (RPAS)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, Bojnord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bojnord, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Bojnord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bojnord, Iran

3 PhD in educational psychology, Kharazmi University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Parental alienation can be a cause of psychological harm for children. The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Rowlands Parental Alienation Scale (2019). Method: The present study was a descriptive-correlational and factor analysis study. The statistical population of the study included all individuals who had referred to the counseling centers of Bojnourd city for divorce counseling in 2014-2015. 220 individuals were selected through convenience sampling and responded to the Rowlands Parental Alienation Scale (RPAS). Cronbach's alpha and the test-retest method were used to examine the reliability of the questionnaire, and confirmatory factor analysis and concurrent validity through Pearson correlation were used to examine the validity. Findings: The results showed that the items had a good correlation with the total score of the scale. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that by deleting items 22 and 15, the data fit was maintained and the scale structure had an acceptable fit with the data. The alpha coefficient of the total scale was 0.86 and for the factors it was between 0.67 and 0.73, and the test-retest correlation coefficient indicated an appropriate reliability of the scale. Conclusion: According to the results obtained, the Rowlands Parental Alienation Scale has appropriate psychometric properties that can be used by researchers and family counselors.

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 25 August 2024
  • Revise Date: 21 January 2025
  • Accept Date: 07 May 2025

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