THE VCOP SCALE - A MEASURE OF OVERPROTECTION IN PARENTS OF PHYSICALLYVULNERABLE CHILDREN

A scale is developed for measuring the overprotecting vs. optimal deve lopmental stimulation tendencies for parents of physically ''vulnerabl e'' children. A series of items were administered to parents whose par enting techniques had been rated as either highly overprotective or as optimal by a group of MDs and other professionals. Correlations were estimated between each of the items and parental tendencies as rated b y professionals. Twenty-eight items were selected that provided maximu m prediction of overprotection. The resulting R2 was extraordinarily h igh (.94). Coefficient alpha and test-retest coefficients were accepta ble. It is hoped that release of the new instrument (VCOPS) at this ti me will allow others to join in determining the clinical and experimen tal validity of this scale.