Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Background Parenting behaviors are among the most potent and malleable determinants of early emotional and behavioral outcomes in children. However, Persian-speaking researchers and clinicians currently lack a validated instrument that captures parenting at the level of specific, observable behaviors rather than broad stylistic dimensions. The Évaluation des Pratiques Éducatives Parentales – Preschool and Primary School Form (EPEP-PPSF) is a 40-item parent-report measure assessing nine domains of child-rearing behavior. This study examined the psychometric properties of its Persian adaptation. Methods Following forward–backward translation and cognitive pretesting, 288 caregivers (238 mothers, 50 fathers) of children aged four to seven years were recruited from kindergartens and elementary schools in Qazvin, Iran. Participants completed the Persian EPEP-PPSF and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the underlying structure, followed by confirmatory factor analysis employing diagonally weighted least squares estimation on polychoric correlation matrices. Reliability was assessed via internal consistency and two-week test-retest stability in a subsample of 20 parents. Validity was evaluated through convergent and discriminant indices, associations with CBCL scores, and known-groups comparisons. Results Thirty-nine of the 40 items loaded onto their intended factors in the exploratory solution. After removing four weak items, the final confirmatory model - comprising nine first-order factors nested under two second-order dimensions (Support and Negative Control)- demonstrated excellent fit (CFI = 0.970; TLI = 0.967; RMSEA = 0.050; SRMR = 0.080). Cronbach's alpha values ranged from 0.60 to 0.85, and retest correlations from 0.67 to 0.93. Higher scores on Harsh Punishment and Discipline were associated with elevated child behavior problems, whereas Positive Parenting showed the inverse pattern. Parents with higher educational attainment reported less use of Harsh Punishment and greater granting of Autonomy. Conclusions The Persian EPEP-PPSF is a psychometrically robust, behaviorally anchored tool for assessing parenting during early childhood. It is well suitable for both research examining the links between parenting practices and child mental health, and for the design and evaluation of parent-targeted preventive and therapeutic programs in Iranian contexts.</p>