You are about to take the Epstein Teen Parenting Inventory (or ETPI). Designed by Dr. Robert Epstein (follow on Twitter at @DrREpstein), one of America's most distinguished research psychologists, this is a comprehensive inventory of twelve important skills parents need for raising happy, healthy, cooperative teens or pre-teens. The content of the test is based on an extensive body of scientific research summarized in Dr. Epstein's recent book, Teen 2.0: Saving Our Children and Families from the Torment of Adolescence.
Most people are able to complete the test in less than 30 minutes, and there are no right or wrong answers. Just select the response that seems best. After you answer all the questions, you will be given a detailed report that will give you your scores and explain what they mean. This is just the start; once you know your ETPI scores, there are many avenues you might pursue to improve your parenting skills.
If you are conducting research and would like to collect raw data for a group that is taking this test - for a business, research study, classroom activity, or other purpose - please see our Group Testing Instructions
NEW! If you know a young person who is depressed, angry, or defiant, he or she might be suffering from Extended Childhood Disorder. Find out at ExtendedChildhoodDisorder.com.
Before we get to the inventory itself, we'll ask you a few basic questions about yourself. Demographic information is being collected for research purposes only and will be kept strictly confidential.
To make sure the scoring is accurate, be sure to fill in all the blanks!
*Required response
For each of the following questions, select the answer that best applies to you.
*1. I often feel stressed over my teen’s behavior.
Agree
Disagree
*2. I’ve tried to teach my teen not to behave impulsively.
Agree
Disagree
*3. I always encourage my teen to respect the religious beliefs of others.
Agree
Disagree
*4. I sometimes restrict my teen’s access to television, video games, or the computer.
Agree
Disagree
*5. I often get drawn in to shouting matches with my teen.
Agree
Disagree
*6. I have always tried to teach my teen to maintain positive and constructive relationships with other people.
Agree
Disagree
*7. I encourage my teen to live a moral life.
Agree
Disagree
*8. I’ve encouraged my teen to do meaningful volunteer work.
Agree
Disagree
*9. I come down hard on my teen when I find out he or she is engaging in risky behavior (like drug use, sex, or drinking).
Agree
Disagree
*10. I try to avoid self-destructive ways of dealing with stress, such as drinking or taking drugs.
Agree
Disagree
*11. When I make commitments or promises, I make sure to honor them.
Agree
Disagree
*12. I encourage my teen to read.
Agree
Disagree
*13. I am always there to help, advise, and console my teen regarding his or her personal relationships.
Agree
Disagree
*14. When discussing issues, I try to show my teen the same respect I would show another adult.
Agree
Disagree
*15. I try to make sure that my teen gets restful and adequate sleep.
Agree
Disagree
*16. When in a relationship, I often have trouble resolving conflicts with my partner.
Agree
Disagree
*17. If I learned that my teen was a homosexual, I would try to be supportive.
Agree
Disagree
*18. My teen is not a child.
Agree
Disagree
*19. I often feel suspicious and accuse my teen of engaging in risky behaviors even if I don’t have a reason to.
Agree
Disagree
*20. I frequently encourage my teen to express his or her creativity.
Agree
Disagree
*21. I set a good example for my teen by regularly participating in spiritual or religious activities.
Agree
Disagree
*22. I am careful never to say negative things to my teen about other people who are important in his or her life.
Agree
Disagree
*23. I maintain good hygiene.
Agree
Disagree
*24. It drives me crazy that my teen won’t tell me anything about his or her private life.
Agree
Disagree
*25. I encourage my teen to exercise regularly.
Agree
Disagree
*26. Generally speaking, I trust my teen’s judgment when it comes to risky behaviors.
Agree
Disagree
*27. I exercise regularly.
Agree
Disagree
*28. I’ve never hit my teen.
Agree
Disagree
*29. I try to teach my teen constructive ways of reducing and managing stress.
Agree
Disagree
*30. If I learned that my teen daughter was pregnant, I would try to be supportive.
Agree
Disagree
*31. I sometimes threaten to take away my teen’s property, such as his or her cell phone.
Agree
Disagree
*32. When I set rules for my teen, I usually enlist his or her help in both making the rules and in specifying the consequences for breaking them.
Agree
Disagree
*33. I try to get involved in healthful outdoor activities.
Agree
Disagree
*34. When in a relationship, I often have trouble communicating with my partner.
Agree
Disagree
*35. I make sure my teen isn’t falling behind in school by helping with his or her homework and doing the assignments completely if need be.
Agree
Disagree
*36. I think about and plan for the future.
Agree
Disagree
*37. When I penalize my teen, I always make sure that he or she has some way to earn back what was lost.
Agree
Disagree
*38. I generally treat my teen like an adult.
Agree
Disagree
*39. To keep my teen away from dangerous household items (such as liquor or prescription drugs or power tools), I’ve threatened severe punishment for going near them.
Agree
Disagree
*40. I’m generally willing to give my teen more adult responsibilities just as soon as he or she shows me he or she can handle them.
Agree
Disagree
*41. Out of concern for my teen’s health and appearance, I frequently insist that my teen eat only certain foods.
Agree
Disagree
*42. I encourage my teen to look for challenging work experiences that might develop his or her fullest potential.
Agree
Disagree
*43. I’m good at controlling my impulses when I need to.
Agree
Disagree
*44. When my teen breaks a rule in our house, I often ask him or her to say what the consequence should be.
Agree
Disagree
*45. To manage my stress, I regularly practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, breathing, or imagery exercises.
Agree
Disagree
*46. To keep my teen safe, I sometimes forbid him or her from leaving our home.
Agree
Disagree
*47. I always support my teen’s decisions, even when I don’t agree with them.
Agree
Disagree
*48. I manage money well.
Agree
Disagree
*49. To make sure my teen feels comfortable telling me about sensitive topics (like drug use), I’ve tried hard to maintain a positive relationship with him or her.
Agree
Disagree
*50. Rather than hiding dangerous household items from my teen, I’ve advised him or her about their proper use.
Agree
Disagree
*51. I try not to apply stereotypes about teens to my own teen.
Agree
Disagree
*52. To protect my teen’s future, I enforce strict rules about his or her personal appearance (for example, by forbidding him or her from wearing certain clothes or getting piercings or tattoos).
Agree
Disagree
*53. When my teen and I disagree about something, I try not to talk down to him or her.
Agree
Disagree
*54. I don’t expect my teen to perform perfectly in school—just to put in his or her best effort.
Agree
Disagree
*55. I expect my teen to take full responsibility for his or her negative behavior—not to make excuses or pass the blame.
Agree
Disagree
*56. I often do things my teen asks for because I am afraid of his or her reaction when I say “no.”
Agree
Disagree
*57. When my teen demands that I help him or her engage in risky behaviors (for example, by buying him or her alcohol), I sometimes give in.
Agree
Disagree
*58. I encourage my teen to maintain good hygiene.
Agree
Disagree
*59. When in a relationship, I try not to argue with my partner in front of my teen.
Agree
Disagree
*60. I plan and prioritize my life so that I experience less stress.
Agree
Disagree
*61. To keep my teen safe, I’m very strict with him or her.
Agree
Disagree
*62. When my teen does something wrong, I try to reassure him or her that I still care about him or her.
Agree
Disagree
*63. II’ve encouraged my teen to think about setting up his or her own business or non-profit organization.
Agree
Disagree
*64. I am always available for my teen when he or she needs advice.
Agree
Disagree
*65. I keep a close eye on my teen—for example, by sometimes searching his or her room or checking the contents of his or her cell phone.
Agree
Disagree
*66. I often find myself overwhelmed by stress.
Agree
Disagree
*67. If I learned that my teen was dating someone of another race, I would try to be supportive.
Agree
Disagree
*68. When in a relationship, I have no trouble apologizing to my partner or forgiving my partner.
Agree
Disagree
*69. As far as I’m concerned, my teen does not have a right to privacy.
Agree
Disagree
*70. I rarely get restful and adequate sleep.
Agree
Disagree
*71. I always try to maintain a positive relationship with my teen’s other parent.
Agree
Disagree
*72. I try to put a positive spin on things so that I don’t get so upset about them.
Agree
Disagree
*73. I am open about sharing my religious and spiritual beliefs with my teen.
Agree
Disagree
*74. No matter how busy I am, I try to spend quality time with my teen.
Agree
Disagree
*75. I’ve tried to teach my teen to stay organized.
Agree
Disagree
*76. I encourage my teen to get involved in healthful outdoor activities.
Agree
Disagree
*77. When my teen screws up, I sometimes ground him or her.
Agree
Disagree
*78. To get my point across, I sometimes need to lecture, nag, or shout at my teen.
Agree
Disagree
*79. I often encourage my teen to tell me how he or she is feeling.
Agree
Disagree
*80. I support my teen’s spiritual development through special schooling or other means.
Agree
Disagree
*81. I praise my teen for his or her strengths far more than I criticize my teen for his or her weaknesses.
Agree
Disagree
*82. I try to make sure that I always have complete control over my teen’s behavior.
Agree
Disagree
*83. I will talk with my teen only if he or she is willing to speak with me in a calm and mature manner.
Agree
Disagree
*84. I try to serve healthful meals at home and to encourage my teen to eat healthful foods.
Agree
Disagree
*85. I rarely try to control my teen’s behavior.
Agree
Disagree
*86. To protect my teen’s future, I always take an active role in every aspect of his or her education—for example, by talking with teachers or researching colleges.
Agree
Disagree
*87. When I disapprove of a possible romantic mate for my teen, I express my concerns but leave the decisions up to my teen.
Agree
Disagree
*88. I’ve encouraged my teen to choose his or her own profession.
Agree
Disagree
*89. I have trouble maintaining a positive relationship with my teen’s other parent.
Agree
Disagree
*90. I’ve tried to teach my teen to prioritize.
Agree
Disagree
*91. I often turn my teen down when he or she asks for help on something I know he or she can handle without me.
Agree
Disagree
*92. I always aim to advise my teen rather than tell him or her exactly what to do.
Agree
Disagree
*93. I have never sworn at my teen or called him or her a bad name.
Agree
Disagree
*94. I sometimes nag or criticize my teen for not completing chores.
Agree
Disagree
*95. I try to encourage my teen to think about and plan for the future.
Agree
Disagree
*96. I keep my home clean and well organized.
Agree
Disagree
*97. I encourage my teen to get good grades.
Agree
Disagree
*98. I treat my teen in a way that is appropriate to his or her maturity level and abilities.
Agree
Disagree
*99. I usually clean up after my teen instead of asking him or her to do it.
Agree
Disagree
*100. I never participate in spiritual or religious activities.
Agree
Disagree
*101. I occasionally struggle with serious bad habits, such as alcoholism, drug abuse, or gambling.
Agree
Disagree
*102. I sometimes do nice things for my teen just because I love him or her.
Agree
Disagree
*103. I often try to find ways to reduce the sources of stress in my life.
Agree
Disagree
*104. When I disapprove of a possible romantic mate for my teen, I forbid him or her from seeing that person.
Agree
Disagree
*105. To keep my teen in line, I have occasionally hit him or her.
Agree
Disagree
*106. If I learned that my teen was dating someone of another religion, I would try to be supportive.
Agree
Disagree
*107. I generally get restful and adequate sleep.
Agree
Disagree
*108. I’m determined to make sure that my teen will enter a specific profession that I have in mind for him or her.
Agree
Disagree
*109. I try to teach my teen to honor his or her commitments and promises.
Agree
Disagree
*110. I often give my teen adult responsibilities like taking care of siblings or elders or fixing things around the house.
Agree
Disagree
*111. I encourage my teen to set legitimate professional goals for him or herself, and I try to be supportive of those goals.
Agree
Disagree
*112. I always provide adequate food, clothing, and shelter for my teen.
Agree
Disagree
*113. I always try to teach my teen how to be safe when engaging in potentially risky activities.
Agree
Disagree
*114. If my teen had a serious emotional or mental health problem, I would enlist the help of a counselor, teacher, or other expert to help me solve it.
Agree
Disagree
*115. I make sure my teen is safe by giving him or her a strict curfew.
Agree
Disagree
*116. I expect my teen to get perfect grades in every subject.
Agree
Disagree
*117. I always refer to my teen as a young adult rather than a child or kid.
Agree
Disagree
*118. I rarely encourage my teen to tell me how he or she is feeling.
Agree
Disagree
*119. I encourage my teen to have meaningful interactions with responsible adults.
Agree
Disagree
*120. I encourage my teen to make decisions for him- or herself.
Agree
Disagree
*121. I always show my teen that I'm listening carefully by expressing interest in what he or she is saying.
Agree
Disagree
*122. I always try to support my teen's participation in legitimate spiritual or religious activities.
Agree
Disagree
*123. I only reward my teen with things because he or she has earns them, not because he or she demands them.
Agree
Disagree
*124. I make of point of paying attention to and praising my teen’s accomplishments.
Agree
Disagree
*125. When my teen talks to me about sensitive matters, I try to be supportive and not to judge.
Agree
Disagree
*126. I have a healthy diet.
Agree
Disagree
*127. I am aware of my teen’s extraordinary ability to learn new things.
Agree
Disagree
*128. My partner and I always try to agree upon how to parent our teen.
Agree
Disagree
*129. I participate with my teen in the celebration of religious holidays or other religious or spiritual events.
Agree
Disagree
*130. I’ve taught my teen how to handle money, and I trust him or her to handle money responsibly.
Agree
Disagree
*131. I never put down or insult my teen.
Agree
Disagree
*132. If my teen did something terrible, depending on the seriousness of the act, I might enlist the help of a counselor, teacher, or even the police.
Agree
Disagree
*133. I encourage my teen to work for the money he or she wants, rather than just giving him or her the money.
Agree
Disagree
*134. I always treat my teen as a unique human being.
Agree
Disagree
*135. Out of concern for my teen’s future, I insist that he or she practice my religion and no other.
Agree
Disagree
*136. I try to teach my teen how to solve problems on his or her own.
Agree
Disagree
*137. I'm always available to answer my teen’s spiritual questions.
Agree
Disagree
*138. I tend to interpret things negatively.
Agree
Disagree
*139. When it comes to romantic relationships, I try to set a good example for my teen by maintaining a great relationship with my own partner.
Agree
Disagree
*140. I encourage my teen to clean up after him- or herself.
Agree
Disagree
