The Parenting Stress Index (PSI) is a clinical and research self-report instrument (101 items) designed as a screening and diagnostic assessment technique to identify parent and child systems which are under stress, and in which deviant development of the child is likely to take place, or where dysfunctional parenting is likely to occur. The PSI yields a total score, three domain scores, and 15 subscales. The domains measured are stresses related to child characteristics, parental characteristics, and situation and demographic factors. The procedures used to develop the PSI and to document its validity, reliability, and normative properties are discussed both in the PSI Manual and in the included Research Update (which reports on developments since 1979). The manual also contains information on scoring and test interpretation, as well as case studies (normal family, crisis profile, separation anxiety, permissive parent) and reference group profiles (cerebral palsy, child abuse, hyperactive, developmentally delayed, normal nursery school. The Administration Booklet is a copy of the test instrument. (PN)