[The Japanese version of the Parenting Scale: factor structure and psychometric properties].

The Parenting Scale is a measure of parenting practices that has been shown in studies in the United States to have sound psychometric properties. This study examined the psychometric properties and factor structure of a Japanese translation of the Parenting Scale. A community sample of 529 mothers with children from 4 to 8 years old completed the Japanese translation of the Parenting Scale. An exploratory factor analysis identified two factors labeled "Over-reactivity" (10-items) and "Laxness" (8-items), which closely resembled two of the factor analyses, using data from a clinical sample (N=167). The factors were significantly correlated with measures of child behavior, with mothers' efficacy, and with mothers' general health and mental health. Suggestions for future research and clinical use of the Japanese scale are discussed.