Psychometric Properties of the Parental Lying Scenarios Scale (PLSS): Test-Retest Reliability, Validity, and Factor Structure

Most parents lie to their children. Parental lying has been linked to parent-child relationship quality and children’s social and moral development, underscoring the importance of accurately measuring this behavior. Existing instruments primarily assess prevalence, rely on a narrow conceptualization of parental lying, and their psychometric properties remain understudied. This study therefore introduces the Parental Lying Scenarios Scale (PLSS), a 40 item self-report instrument measure of parental lying prevalence and frequency across a broad range of parental lies. We assess its test-retest reliability, convergent and predictive validity, and factor structure. Data were collected from Dutch parents of children aged 5-12 years (n = 247 for test-retest reliability and factor analysis; n = 316 for validity analyses). The PLSS demonstrated strong test-retest reliability and evidence for convergent and predictive validity. Exploratory Factor Analyses at two timepoints consistently identified two distinct factors: lying to influence children’s behavior and lying to shape children’s knowledge or emotions.This study provides initial support for the PLSS as a reliable and conceptually meaningful instrument for capturing a broader range of parental lying. The PLSS thereby offers a promising methodological foundation for future research on the antecedents and socio-moral implications of parental lying for both parents and children.