Assessing Parental Stress and Satisfaction: Validation of the Hungarian Version of the Parental Stress Scale
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5708/EJMH.21.2026.0053Keywords:
parental stress, parental satisfaction, parental resilience, psychological well-being, atypical developmentAbstract
Introduction: Parenting is widely recognized as a meaningful and rewarding experience, yet it also entails significant demands and stress. Major family transitions, beginning with the transition to parenthood and extending to later life changes, profoundly reshape family dynamics and are often associated with elevated parental stress. Therefore, reliable measures are essential to effectively capture the sources and effects of this stress.
Aim: The current study aimed to examine parental stress in a Hungarian sample by validating the Parental Stress Scale (PASS; Berry & Jones, 1995).
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 838 Hungarian speaking parents (75.5% women; mean age = 37.50 years). Participants completed the Hungarian version of the Parental Stress Scale along with additional measures of perceived stress, depression, life satisfaction, parental resilience, and relationship satisfaction.
Results: Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis with systematic model comparison supported a robust two-factor structure (Parental Stress and Parental Satisfaction) yielding a 13‑item solution with acceptable fit indices. Both scales demonstrated good internal consistency. Parental stress was positively associated with perceived stress and depression, and negatively associated with life satisfaction, parental resilience, and relationship satisfaction, whereas parental satisfaction showed the opposite pattern. Higher educational attainment and a greater number of children were associated with higher parental stress, while older age and male gender
were associated with lower parental satisfaction.
Conclusions: The Hungarian version of the Parental Stress Scale is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing parental stress and satisfaction. It serves as a useful tool for research and intervention programs aimed at supporting parental well-being in Hungary.
References
Abidin, R. R. (1990). Introduction to the special issue: The stresses of parenting. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 19(4), 298–301.
https://doi.org/10.1207/s15374424jccp1904_1
Ainbinder, J. G., Blanchard, L. W., Singer, G. H. S., Sullivan, M. E., Powers, L. K., Marquis, J. G., & Santelli, B. (1998). A qualitative study of parent to parent support for parents of children with special needs. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 23(2), 99–109.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/23.2.99
Algarvio, S., Leal, I., & Maroco, J. (2018). Parental Stress Scale: Validation study with a Portuguese population of parents of children from 3 to 10 years old. Journal of Child Health Care, 22(4), 563–576.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1367493518764337
Barnett, D., Clements, M., Kaplan-Estrin, M., & Fialka, J. (2003). Building new dreams: Supporting parents’ adaptation to their child with special needs. Infants & Young Children, 16(3), 184–200.
https://doi.org/10.1097/00001163-200307000-00002
Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4(6), 561–571.
https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1961.01710120031004
Berry, J. O., & Jones, W. H. (1995). The Parental Stress Scale: Initial psychometric evidence. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 12(3), 463–472.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407595123009
Bodenmann, G. (1997). Dyadic coping: A systemic-transactional view of stress and coping among couples: Theory and empirical findings. European Review of Applied Psychology / Revue Européenne de Psychologie Appliquée, 47(2), 137–141.
Brown, K. A., Parikh, S., & Patel, D. R. (2020). Understanding basic concepts of developmental diagnosis in children. Translational Pediatrics, 9(S1), S9–S21.
https://doi.org/10.21037/tp.2019.11.04
Burkhalter, T. (2010). Writing for special needs: The importance of the real relationship. Psycho-analytic Psychotherapy in South Africa, 18(1), 20–39. Cheung, S.-K. (2000). Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Parental Stress Scale. Psychologia: An International Journal of Psychology in the Orient, 43(4), 253–261.
Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 385–396.
https://doi.org/10.2307/2136404
Crnic, K. A., & Greenberg, M. T. (1990). Minor parenting stresses with young children. Child Development, 61(5), 1628–1637.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1990.tb02889.x
Danis, I. (2015) A csecsemő és kisgyermekkori lelki egészség támogatásának helye a koragyermekkori intervencióban [The role of supporting infant and toddler mental health in early childhood intervention]. Gyógypedagógiai Szemle, 43(2), 100–116.
Danis, I., Bóné, V., Hegedüs, R., Pilinszki, A., Szabó, T., & Dávid, B. (2020). Infancy in 21st century Hungary—A project introduction. European Journal of Mental Health, 15(2), 111–144.
https://doi.org/10.5708/EJMH.15.2020.2.3
Das, S., Das, B., Nath, K., Dutta, A., Bora, P., & Hazarika, M. (2017). Impact of stress, coping, social support, and resilience of families having children with autism: A North East India-based study. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 28, 133–139.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2017.03.040
Deater-Deckard, K. (2004). Parenting stress. Yale University Press.
https://doi.org/10.12987/yale/9780300103939.001.0001
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71–75.
https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
Elliott, G. R., Eisdorfer, C., & Institute of Medicine (1982). Stress and human health: Analysis and implications of research: A study. Springer. Fang, Y., Luo, J., Boele, M., Windhorst, D., Van Grieken, A., & Raat, H. (2022). Parent, child, and situational factors associated with parenting stress: A systematic review. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33, 1687–1705.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-022-02027-1
García-López, C., Sarriá, E., Pozo, P., & Recio, P. (2016). Supportive dyadic coping and psychological adaptation in couples parenting children with autism spectrum disorder: The role of relationship satisfaction. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(11), 3434–3447.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2883-5
Hayes, S. A., & Watson, S. L. (2013). The impact of parenting stress: A meta-analysis of studies comparing the experience of parenting stress in parents of children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43, 629–642.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1604-y
Hendrick, S. S. (1988). A generic measure of relationship satisfaction. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50(1), 93–98.
https://doi.org/10.2307/352430
Iacob, C. I., Avram, E., Cojocaru, D., & Podina, I. R. (2020). Resilience in familial caregivers of children with developmental disabilities: A meta-analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50, 4053–4068.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04473-9
Kabasakal, Z., Girli, A., Totan, T., & Aysan, F. (2012). Psychiatric symptoms as predictors of life satisfaction in parents with handicapped children. Eğitimde Kuram ve Uygulama, 8(2), 388–394.
Kersh, J., Hedvat, T. T., Hauser-Cram, P., & Warfield, M. E. (2006). The contribution of marital quality to the well-being of parents of children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50(12), 883–893.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00906.x
Lazarus, R. S., & Cohen, J. B. (1977). Environmental stress. In I. Altman & J. F. Wohlwill (Eds.), Human Behavior and Environment: Advances in Theory and Research (Vol. 2, pp. 89–127). Springer. Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer. Leung, C., & Tsang, S. K. M. (2009). The Chinese Parental Stress Scale: Psychometric evidence using Rasch modeling on clinical and nonclinical samples. Journal of Personality Assessment, 92(1), 26–34.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00223890903379209
Liang, W. S., & Tahar, M. M. (2024). Parenting stress: Comparison between parents of atypical children and typical children. Special Education [SE], 2(1), Article e0021.
https://doi.org/10.59055/se.v2i1.21
Markó, É., Bandi, S., & Kiss, E. C. (2019). A 16 itemes Szülői Reziliencia Kérdőív (PREQ16) magyar adaptációja – Első hazai mérési tapasztalatok [The Hungarian adaptation of the 16-item Parenting Resilience Elements Questionnaire (PREQ16) – First domestic measurement experiences]. Magyar Pszichológiai Szemle, 74(4), 447–462.
https://doi.org/10.1556/0016.2019.74.4.2
Markó, K., & Hegedűs, K. (2018). Parental Stress Scale – Hungarian translation [Unpublished scale translation]. Martos, T., Sallay, V., Désfalvi, J., Szabó, T., & Ittzés, A. (2014). Az Élettel való Elégedettség Skála magyar változatának (SWLS-H) pszichometriai jellemzői [Psychometric characteristics of the Hungarian version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS-H)]. Mentálhigiéné és Pszichoszomatika, 15(3), 289–303.
https://doi.org/10.1556/Mental.15.2014.3.9
Martos, T., Sallay, V., Nistor, M., & Józsa, P. (2012). Párkapcsolati megküzdés és jóllét — a Páros Megküzdés Kérdőív magyar változata [Dyadic coping and well-being—The Hungarian version of the Dyadic Coping Inventory]. Psychiatria Hungarica, 27(6), 446–458.
Martos T., Sallay V., Szabó T., Lakatos C., & Tóth-Vajna R. (2014). A Kapcsolati Elégedettség Skála magyar változatának (RAS-H) pszichometriai jellemzői [Psychometric characteristics of the Hungarian version of the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS-H)]. Mentálhigiéné és Pszichoszomatika, 15(3), 245–258.
https://doi.org/10.1556/Mental.15.2014.3.6
Martos, J., Sallay, V., Szabó, E., Tóth-Vajna, R., & Martos, T. (2018). Diádikus stressz és megküzdés – Elméleti modellek és alkalmazások. [Dyadic stress and dyadic coping – Theoretical models and applications.] Mentálhigiéné és Pszichoszomatika, 19(1), 33–54.
https://doi.org/10.1556/0406.19.2018.002
Melnyk, B. M., Feinstein, N. F., Moldenhouer, Z., & Small, L. (2001). Coping in parents of children who are chronically ill: Strategies for assessment and intervention. Pediatric Nursing, 27(6), 548–558. Miller, B. C., & Sollie, D. L. (1980). Normal stresses during the transition to parenthood. Family Relations, 29(4), 449–465.
https://doi.org/10.2307/584459
Minuchin, P. (1985). Families and individual development: Provocations from the field of family therapy. Child Development, 56(2), 289–302.
https://doi.org/10.2307/1129720
Morrod, D. (2004). Make or break – Who cares for couples when their children are sick? Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 19(3), 247–263.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14681990410001715409
Nærde, A., & Sommer Hukkelberg, S. (2020). An examination of validity and reliability of the Parental Stress Scale in a population based sample of Norwegian parents. PLoS ONE, 15(12), Article e0242735.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242735
Nomaguchi, K., & Milkie, M. A. (2020). Parenthood and well‐being: A decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(1), 198–223.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12646
Oronoz, B., Alonso-Arbiol, I., & Balluerka, N. (2007). A Spanish adaptation of the Parental Stress Scale. Psicothema, 19(4), 687–692. Peer, J. W., & Hillman, S. B. (2014). Stress and resilience for parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A review of key factors and recommendations for practitioners. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 11(2), 92–98.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jppi.12072
Pontoppidan, M., Nielsen, T., & Kristensen, I. H. (2018). Psychometric properties of the Danish Parental Stress Scale: Rasch analysis in a sample of mothers with infants. PLOS ONE, 13(11), Article e0205662.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0205662
Randall, A. K., & Bodenmann, G. (2009). The role of stress on close relationships and marital satisfaction. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(2), 105–115.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2008.10.004
Rózsa, S., Szádóczky, E., & Füredi, J. (2001). A Beck Depresszió Kérdőív rövidített változatának jellemzői hazai mintán [Psychometric properties of the Hungarian version of the shortened Beck Depression Inventory]. Psychiatria Hungarica, 16(4), 379–394.
Sallay, V., Simon-Zámbori, P., & Martos, T. (2021). A szülői reziliencia mintázatai átlagos és átlagostól eltérő fejlődésű gyermeket nevelő anyák esetében [Patterns of resilience factors in mothers raising children with typical and atypical development]. Alkalmazott Pszichológia, 21(4), 53–73.
https://doi.org/10.17627/ALKPSZICH.2021.4.53
Shivers, C. M., Leonczyk, C. L., & Dykens, E. M. (2016). Life satisfaction among mothers of individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46, 2126–2137.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2741-5
Sinha, D., Verma, N., & Harshe, D. G. (2016). A comparative study of parenting styles, parental stress and resilience among parents of children having autism spectrum disorder, parents of children having specific learning disorder and parents of children not diagnosed with any psychiatric disorder. Annals of International Medical and Dental Research, 2(4).
https://doi.org/10.21276/aimdr.2016.2.4.30
Slifirczyk, A., Krajewska-Kulak, E., Brayer, A., Sobolewski, M., & Maciorkowska, E. (2016). Assessment of parents’ ways of coping with critical situations. Progress in Health Sciences, 6(1), 116–122. Sloper, P., Knussen, C., Turner, S., & Cunningham, C. (1991). Factors related to stress and satisfaction with life in families of children with Down’s syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 32(4), 655–676.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.1991.tb00342.x
Stauder, A., & Konkolÿ Thege, B. (2006). Az észlelt stressz kérdőív (PSS) magyar verziójának jellemzői [Characteristics of the Hungarian version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)]. Mentálhigiéné és Pszichoszomatika, 7(3), 203–216.
https://doi.org/10.1556/Mental.7.2006.3.4
Suzuki, K., Kobayashi, T., Moriyama, K., Kaga, M., Hiratani, M., Watanabe, K., Yamashita, Y., & Inagaki, M. (2015). Development and evaluation of a Parenting Resilience Elements Questionnaire (PREQ) measuring resiliency in rearing children with developmental disorders. PLOS ONE, 10(12), Article e0143946.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0143946
Suzuki, K., Kobayashi, T., Moriyama, K., Kaga, M., & Inagaki, M. (2013). A framework for resilience research in parents of children with developmental disorders. Asian Journal of Human Services, 5, 104–111.
https://doi.org/10.14391/ajhs.5.104
Zelman, J. J., & Ferro, M. A. (2018). The Parental Stress Scale: Psychometric properties in families of children with chronic health conditions. Family Relations, 67(2), 240–252.
https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12306
Zemp, M., Milek, A., Cummings, E. M., Cina, A., & Bodenmann, G. (2016). How couple- and parenting-focused programs affect child behavioral problems: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25, 798–810.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-015-0260-1
Downloads
Published 2026-03-05
How to Cite
