A Reliability and Validity Study of the Protective Factors Survey to Assess Protective Factors in Families

Abstract

Child maltreatment results in long term adverse consequences for victims and poses significant costs to society. Prevention programs are reframing maltreatment and focusing on protective factors in addition to risk factors. Easy-to-administer, affordable, and psychometrically sound instruments that measure multiple protective factors are lacking. The present study explored the reliability and validity of the Protective Factors Survey (PFS), a tool developed to measure protective factors in parents and caregivers. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted with a sample of 1,078 participants, who completed a parent education program in Nevada. Results provide psychometric data that support a valid and reliable four-factor solution, consisting of family functioning, social support, concrete support, and nurturing and attachment. The present study contributes to the knowledge base of protective factors and has implications for the field as a paradigm and tool for evaluation and research.