The development of a parental attachment recognition scale for mothers nurturing preschool children

Abstract

Background: Attachment theory shows that childhood experiences influence the parenting style that the child shows later, as a parent. Nevertheless, at present there are no instruments to efficiently quantify the emotions associated with parents’ early attachment. Objective: This study aims to develop a cognitive scale that measures both the positive and negative emotions reflecting the early attachment experience of Japanese mothers now nurturing their own preschool-age children. Design: A Parental Attachment Recognition Scale is developed in three phases that include concept analysis, item pool development and validity analysis, and investigation of the scale's statistical features, factor structure, validity, and reliability. Measurements and Sample: The scale development is based on a self-administered questionnaire survey, answered by 639 mothers. Results: The scale consists of 27 items, grouped by factor analysis into three subordinate scales, named: (1) Parent–child contact; (2) Emotional bond; and (3) Parental impressions. Conclusions: The study proposes a new scale to measure the recognition of early childhood attachment experiences among mothers raising their own preschool children. The instrument has a considerable degree of validity and reliability. The scale is expected to be useful in helping public health nurses assess mothers in need of childrearing support.