Content uploaded by Jessica A Stern
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Jessica A Stern on Mar 28, 2023
Content may be subject to copyright.
IRI—Parent version 2016
INTERPERSONAL REACTIVITY INDEX—Parent Version
(Stern, 2016; adapted from Davis, 1980)
The following statements inquire about your thoughts and feelings in a variety of situations with
your child. For each item, indicate how well it describes you by selecting a number. Please
answer as honestly as you can.
Does NOT
describe
me well
Describes
me very
well
1. I often have tender, concerned feelings for my child
when they are going through a rough time. 1 2 3 4 5
2. I sometimes find it difficult to see things from my
child’s point of view. 1 2 3 4 5
3. Sometimes I don’t feel very sorry for my child when
they are having problems. 1 2 3 4 5
4. In emergency situations with my child, I feel
apprehensive and ill-at-ease. 1 2 3 4 5
5. I try to look at my child’s side of a disagreement
before I make a decision. 1 2 3 4 5
6. When I see my child being taken advantage of, I feel
protective towards them. 1 2 3 4 5
7. I sometimes feel helpless when I am in the middle of
a very emotional situation with my child. 1 2 3 4 5
8. I sometimes try to understand my child better by
imagining how things look from their perspective. 1 2 3 4 5
9. When I see my child get hurt, I tend to remain calm. 1 2 3 4 5
10. My child’s misfortunes do not usually disturb me a
great deal. 1 2 3 4 5
11. If I’m sure I’m right about something, I don’t waste
much time listening to my child’s arguments. 1 2 3 4 5
12. Being in a tense emotional situation with my child
scares me. 1 2 3 4 5
13. When I see my child being treated unfairly, I
sometimes don’t feel very much pity for them. 1 2 3 4 5
14. I am usually pretty effective in dealing with
emergencies with my child. 1 2 3 4 5
1
IRI—Parent version 2016
15. I am often quite touched by things that I see my child
do. 1 2 3 4 5
16. I believe that there are two sides to every question
and try to look at my child’s side. 1 2 3 4 5
17. I would describe myself as a pretty soft-hearted
parent. 1 2 3 4 5
18. I tend to lose control during emergencies with my
child. 1 2 3 4 5
19. When I’m upset at my child, I usually try to “put
myself in their shoes” for a while. 1 2 3 4 5
20. If I saw that my child badly needed help in an
emergency, I would go to pieces. 1 2 3 4 5
21. Before criticizing my child, I try to imagine how I
would feel if I were in their place. 1 2 3 4 5
2
IRI—Parent version 2016
Items by subscale
Empathic Concern (EC)
1. I often have tender, concerned feelings for my child when they are going through a rough
time.
2. Sometimes I don’t feel very sorry for my child when they are having problems. (-)
3. When I see my child being taken advantage of, I feel protective towards them.
4. My child’s misfortunes do not usually disturb me a great deal. (-)
5. When I see my child being treated unfairly, I sometimes don’t feel very much pity for
them. (-)
6. I am often quite touched by things that I see my child do.
7. I would describe myself as a pretty soft-hearted parent.
Perspective-Taking (PT)
1. I sometimes find it difficult to see things from my child’s point of view. (-)
2. I try to look at my child’s side of a disagreement before I make a decision.
3. I sometimes try to understand my child better by imagining how things look from their
perspective.
4. If I’m sure I’m right about something, I don’t waste much time listening to my child’s
arguments. (-)
5. I believe that there are two sides to every question and try to look at my child’s side.
6. When I’m upset at my child, I usually try to “put myself in their shoes” for a while.
7. Before criticizing my child, I try to imagine how I would feel if I were in their place.
Personal Distress (PD)
1. In emergency situations with my child, I feel apprehensive and ill-at-ease.
2. I sometimes feel helpless when I am in the middle of a very emotional situation with my
child.
3. When I see my child get hurt, I tend to remain calm. (-)
4. Being in a tense emotional situation with my child scares me.
5. I am usually pretty effective in dealing with emergencies with my child. (-)
6. I tend to lose control during emergencies with my child.
7. If I saw that my child badly needed help in an emergency, I would go to pieces.
3