Development of a Strength Scale for Fathers of Children in Early Childhood

The purpose of this study is to develop a strengths-based scale that systematically measures the unique strengths exhibited by fathers of young children during the parenting process, based on the strengths-based approach of positive psychology, and to validate its validity. To achieve this, preliminary constructs and items were derived through literature analysis and a review of prior research. A three-round Delphi survey was conducted with 16 experts, and a Content Validity Index (CVI) analysis was performed to finalize the strength scale, which consists of 6 domains, 19 strengths, and a total of 98 items. The analysis revealed an overall average CVI of .92, indicating excellent content validity; in particular, a high level of consensus among experts was confirmed in the relational and transcendental strengths domains. The developed scale consists of a self-report 5-point Likert scale, allowing fathers to use it for self-assessment to objectively evaluate their parenting competencies, while parenting education specialists can utilize it as a professional diagnostic tool for parenting education, counseling, and support. This study holds academic and practical significancet in that it presents a standardized tool reflecting the unique characteristics of early childhood parenting and the sociocultural context of Korea. The results are expected to provide empirical data for strengthening fathers’ identity and parenting efficacy, as well as for designing tailored parenting education programs.