Factor Structure of the Conflict Tactics Scale 1.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• The Conflict Tactics Scale 1 (CTS1) is a key self-report measure for parental abusive attitudes towards children.
• Clarifying the factor structure of the CTS1 is crucial for its accurate application.
• Previous research has not definitively established the factor structure of the CTS1.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the factor structure of the Japanese version of the Conflict Tactics Scale 1 (CTS1).
• To assess the validity of the CTS1 in a community sample of postpartum women in Japan.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from a longitudinal survey in Okayama and Kumamoto, Japan (2001-2002 and 2011).
• Collected CTS1 data from 1,078 postpartum women one month after delivery.
• Employed exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on half the sample and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the other half to compare 2-factor and 3-factor models.

Main Results:

• Exploratory factor analysis suggested both 2-factor and 3-factor models for the CTS1.
• Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a 2-factor model provided a superior fit to the data.
• The superior 2-factor model comprised the subscales of Reasoning and Psychological Aggression.

Conclusions:

• The 2-factor model of the Japanese CTS1, consisting of Reasoning and Psychological Aggression, is supported by this study.
• This finding aligns with the original theoretical framework proposed by the CTS1 authors.
• The validated 2-factor structure enhances the utility of the CTS1 for research on parental attitudes in Japanese postpartum women.