The purpose of this study is to evaluate psychometric properties of the Perception of Parental Role Inventory developed for use by nursing professions (Kwon et al.,
2006), and to examine differences in perception by sociodemographic and parenting-related characteristics among non-parent women. Data were from 204
unmarried women with no children in Seoul (Age M=25.1, SD=4.47). Reliability and construct validity were examined using exploratory factor analysis. Means of factor scores of the original and the present scales were compared with t?tests. Differences in perception were examined using t-tests and ANOVA.The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the Inventory (33 items) was .92 in this study. Factor analysis yielded seven factors (caring performance ability, responsibility, knowledge related to caring, sensitivity, environmental organization for development, acceptance, provision of stimulation and involvement), explaining 62.3% of the total variance. Perceptions of parental roles were different according to primary caregiver in childhood, relationship quality with parents, experiences in parent education, and intention to give birth. The current analysis
identified the same factor structure as the original Inventory, but with different items for each factor. Further tests for the validity of the Perception of Parental
Role Inventory along with efforts to explore factors affecting appraisal of the importance of parental roles are needed.