Development of an Observational Parental Scaffolding Measure for Youth with Spina Bifida

To examine the reliability and validity of a new observational measure of parental scaffolding, as well as the impact of parental scaffolding on academic and social outcomes among youth with spina bifida (SB).

As part of a larger study, 137 families of youth with SB participated in family interaction tasks and self-report questionnaires at the baseline assessment. Teachers also reported on youth's academic independence and competence, as well as social skills. Guided by previous research and theoretical formulations, a rational approach to measure development was employed whereby maternal and paternal scaffolding composites were created using the Family Interaction Macro-coding System (Holmbeck, Zebracki, Johnson, Belvedere, & Hommeyer (2007). Parent-child interaction macro-coding manual. Unpublished coding system. Chicago: Loyola University Chicago).

The scaffolding measure demonstrated acceptable interrater and scale reliabilities. Additionally, both the maternal and paternal scaffolding composites were significantly associated with scores from self-report questionnaires of parenting behaviors in the expected directions. Maternal scaffolding was positively associated with IQ, academic competence, academic independence, and social self-control in youth with SB, whereas paternal scaffolding was positively associated with social cooperation and social self-control. Differences in scaffolding emerged between mothers and fathers, as well as across demographic variables.

Initial findings support the use of the scaffolding measure. Future research should continue to examine the utility of this scaffolding measure in families of youth with SB.