Chinese Parents’ Multidimensional Psychological Control: Measurement Invariance Across Informants and Over Time

Purpose: To address the lack of a differentiated approach to conceptualize and examine parental psychological control (PC) in Chinese settings, we examined measurement invariance across informants (i.e., parents and adolescents) and over time of an indigenous Chinese Psychological Control Scale (CPPCS) containing three dimensions of relational induction, social comparison shame, and harsh PC. Methods: Data were collected from over 1,400 Grades 7–10 adolescents and their parents in two waves with a 6-month interval. Results: Measurement invariance tests showed that the three-dimensional structure of the CPPCS was invariant among fathers, mothers, and adolescents, as well as over time. Furthermore, analyses revealed different predictive effects of individual PC dimensions on adolescent developmental outcomes, and differences between adolescent and parent reports. Implications: The validated CPPCS provides a comprehensive and differentiated approach to assessing parental PC in Chinese settings using multi-informant and longitudinal designs.