Parental Lying in the Netherlands and United States: Shifting Perspectives on Prevalence, Frequency, Lie Types, and Cross-Country Comparisons

Parental lying to children is common. Yet, critical measurement issues, including lie frequency, variation in lie types, and challenges in cross-country comparisons, remain underexplored. This study examined parental lying prevalence (whether they lie) and frequency (how often they lie), overall and across lie types (i.e., other-oriented, self-oriented, instrumental). Additionally, measurement invariance was evaluated to determine whether meaningful comparisons could be made between parents from the Netherlands and the United States (U.S.).Cross-sectional self-report data were collected from 109 parents from the Netherlands and 122 from the U.S. with children aged 6 to 16. Chi-square tests assessed differences in prevalence and frequency across lie types. Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis tested measurement invariance, followed by cross-country comparisons of latent means. Most parents in both countries reported lying, though frequent lying was rare. Significant differences emerged across lie types in prevalence and frequency. Full measurement invariance was established, supporting cross-country comparability. Comparisons revealed no significant differences in lying tendencies between groups. This study advances the understanding of parental lying by highlighting not only its prevalence but also its frequency, while distinguishing between lie types. Findings also suggest similarities between parents from the Netherlands and the U.S. in item interpretation and general lying tendencies.