Development and validation of the remote parenting scale for chinese left-behind adolescents

This study aimed to develop and validate a Remote Parenting Scale for left-behind adolescents in China. Study 1 ( N = 280) conducted item analysis and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on the initial scale. Eleven items were removed due to insufficient discriminability, low homogeneity, inadequate factor loadings, or cross-loadings, resulting in a 12-item finalized scale with two dimensions: Remote Support and Remote Control, which together explained 58.862% of the total variance. Study 2 ( N = 281) examined reliability and validity in an independent sample. The two subscales demonstrated good internal consistency ( Cronbach's α = 0.839–0.885), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated satisfactory model fit (χ 2 /df = 2.236, RMSEA = 0.066, SRMR = 0.045, GFI = 0.933, NFI = 0.926, IFI = 0.958, TLI = 0.947, CFI = 0.957), supporting structural, convergent, and discriminant validity. Study 3 ( N = 287) assessed criterion-related validity by computing correlations between the Remote Parenting Scale and other criterion measures, including online parent–child communication, family support, harsh parenting, parent–child intimacy, emotional symptoms, and prosocial behavior. All correlations between scale dimensions and criterion variables were statistically significant. Overall, the Remote Parenting Scale demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties and provides a reliable tool for assessing remote parenting behaviors among Chinese left-behind adolescents.