Dimensions of parental support: Relationships among parents' reports, children's perceptions, and observed behavior

There is a vast literature on the positive relationship between parental support and children's adjustment. However, the operational definition and measurement of parental support varies greatly across studies. Numerous dimensions of parental support have been investigated with little agreement regarding their operational definitions, and multiple perspectives on support have been assessed without a clear understanding of the relationships among them.; The present study investigated the relationships among parents' self-reports, children's perceptions, and observers' ratings of parental support to assess the validity of each perspective. Additionally, the relationships among the various parental support variables and children's empathy were examined, to provide further validity of parental support constructs. Finally, exploratory factor analyses were conducted to identify dimensions of parental support. Sixty-six fourth and fifth grade boys and their parents participated. Boys completed a measure of perceived parental support separately for each parent, as well as a measure of empathy. Parents completed a similar self-report measure of parental support. Each parent participated individually with their child in an observed dyadic interaction.; The study found that parents' self-report related to children's perceived support. Mothers' self-report related to actual behaviors during parent-child interactions, but fathers' self-report and children's perceived support generally did not. Additionally, observed support related to children's empathy, but parents' and children's self-reports did not. Finally, factor analyses found parental support dimensions of warmth, positive involvement, emotional support, autonomy, and satisfaction. The factors were slightly different for mothers and fathers. Findings have implications for future research and clinical intervention.