Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale

 

In every family there are times when the parents don' t get along. Below are some things that kids sometimes think or feel when their parents have arguments or disagreements. We would like you to tell us what you think or feel when your parents argue or disagree by answering each of the sentences below.

 

                                  T = TRUE

                                ST = SORT OF TRUE
                                   F = FALSE

 

1.     T    ST    F        I never see my parents arguing or disagreeing.

2.     T    ST    F       When my parents have an argument they usually work it out

3.     T    ST    F        My parents often get into arguments about things I do at school

4.     T    ST    F        When my parents argue it's because one of them just had a bad day

5.     T    ST    F        My parents get really mad when they argue

6.     T    ST    F        When my parents argue I can do something to make myself feel better

7.     T    ST    F        I get scared when my parents argue

8.     T    ST    F        I feel caught in the middle when my parents argue

9.     T    ST    F        I 'm not to blame when my parents have arguments

10.   T    ST    F        They may not think I know it, but my parents argue or disagree a lot

11.   T    ST    F        Even after my parents stop arguing they stay mad at each other

12.   T    ST    F        When my parents argue usually it has to do with their own problems

13.   T    ST    F        My parents have arguments because they are not happy together

14.   T    ST    F        When my parents have a disagreement they discuss it quietly

15.   T    ST    F        I don't know what to do when my parents have arguments

16.   T    ST    F        My parents are often mean to each other even when I'm around

17.   T    ST    F        When my parents argue I worry about what will happen to me

18.   T    ST    F        I don't feel like I have to take sides when my parents have a disagreement

19.   T    ST    F        It's usually my fault when my parents argue

20.   T    ST    F        I often see or hear my parents arguing

21.   T    ST    F        When my parents disagree about something, they usually come up with a solution

22.   T    ST    F        My parents' arguments are usually about me

23.   T    ST    F        The reasons my parents argue never change

24.   T    ST    F        When my parents have an argument they say mean things to each other

25.   T    ST    F        When my parents argue or disagree I can usually help make things better

27.   T    ST    F        When my parents argue I'm afraid that something bad will happen.

28.   T    ST    F        My mom wants me to be on her side when she and my dad argue

29.   T    ST    F        Even if they don't say it, I know I'm to blame when my parents argue

30.   T    ST    F        My parents hardly ever argue

 

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CPIC 2/2

 

                          T = TRUE     ST = SORT OF TRUE     F = FALSE          

30.   T    ST    F     When my parents argue they usually make up right away

31.   T    ST    F     My parents usually argue or disagree because of things that I do

32.   T    ST    F     My parents argue because they don't really love each other

33.   T    ST    F     When my parents have an argument they yell at each other

34.   T    ST    F     When my parents argue there's nothing I can do to stop them

35.   T    ST    F     When my parents argue I worry that one of them will get hurt

36.   T    ST    F      I feel like I have to take sides when my parents have a disagreement

37.   T    ST    F     My parents often nag and complain about each other around the house

38.   T    ST    F     My parents hardly ever yell when they have a disagreement

39.   T    ST    F     My parents often get into arguments when I do something wrong

40.   T    ST    F     My parents have broken or thrown things during an argument

41.   T    ST    F     After my parents stop arguing, they are friendly towards each other

42.   T    ST    F     When my parents argue I'm afraid that they will yell at me too

43.   T    ST    F     My parents blame me when they have arguments

44.   T    ST    F     My dad wants me to be on his side when he and my mom argue

45.   T    ST    F     My parents have pushed or shoved each other during an argument

46.   T    ST    F     When my parents argue or disagree there's nothing I can do to make myself feel better

47.   T    ST    F     When my parents argue I worry that they might get divorced

48.   T    ST    F     My parents still act mean after they have had an argument

49.   T    ST    F     My parents have arguments because they don't know how to get along

50.   T    ST    F     Usually it's not my fault when my parents have arguments

51.   T    ST    F     When my parents argue they don't listen to anything I say

 

 Reference

Grych, J.H., Seid, M. , & Fincham, F.D. (1992). Assessing marital conflict from the child's perspective: The Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale. Child Development, 63, 558-572.

For psychometic information on the use of the CPIC with an older age group see:

Moura, O., Santos, R. A., Rocha, M., & Matos, P. M. (2010). Children’s Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale (CPIC): Factor structure and invariance across adolescents and emerging adults. International Journal of Testing, 10, 364-382.