A Theoretical Model for the Comprehensive Assessment of Parenting

This article proposes a theoretical model for the comprehensive assessment of parenting. While the emphasis throughout is on ‘core' assessments, made in the context of child maltreatment and substitute care, it is intended as a general theory of parenting or care-giving and hence applicable to a wide variety of professional situations. The model is rooted in attachment theory and evolutionary psychology with an overarching use of systemic thinking. First of all, parenting is located within an ecological framework. Then, the care-giving environment is defined by drawing on the empirical, professional and theoretical literature. Central to this model of the care-giving environment is the separation of core dimensions that are fundamental to parenting behaviour—that is, they are an intrinsic part of the behaviour of all parents—from those which modify parenting ability but cannot be reduced to one of the core or fundamental dimensions. A total of seven dimensions are considered together with some relevant assessment procedures. It is envisaged that further work will produce a manual for this, utilizing a variety of current assessment procedures while retaining a systemic framework for analysis and intervention