Measuring bonding or attachment in the parent-infant-relationship: a systematic review of parent-report assessment measures, their psychometric properties and clinical utility

Wittkowski, A., Vatter, S., Muhinyi, A., Garrett, C. and Henderson, M. (2020) Measuring bonding or attachment in the parent-infant-relationship: a systematic review of parent-report assessment measures, their psychometric properties and clinical utility. Clinical Psychology Review, 82, 101906. (doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101906) (PMID:32977111) (PMCID:PMC7695805)

Abstract

Background: Meaningful, valid and reliable self-report measures can facilitate the identification of important parent-infant-relationship factors, relevant intervention development and subsequent evaluation in community and clinical contexts. We aimed at identifying all available parent-report measures of the parent-infant-relationship or bond and to appraise their psychometric and clinimetric properties. Method: A systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42017078512) was conducted using the, 2018 COSMIN criteria. Eight electronic databases were searched. Papers describing the development of self-report measures of the parent-infant-bond, attachment or relationship from pregnancy until two years postpartum or the assessment of their psychometric properties were included. Results: Sixty-five articles evaluating 17 original measures and 13 modified versions were identified and reviewed. The studies' methodological quality (risk of bias) varied between ‘very good’ and ‘inadequate’ depending on the measurement property assessed; however, scale development studies were mostly of ‘inadequate’ quality. Although most measures had good clinical utility, the psychometric evaluation of their properties was largely poor. The original or modified versions of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire collectively received the strongest psychometric evaluation ratings with high quality of evidence. Conclusions: This novel review revealed that only a few antenatal and postnatal measures demonstrated adequate psychometric properties. Further studies are needed to determine the most robust perinatal measures for researchers and clinicians.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Henderson, Prof Marion
• Authors: Wittkowski, A., Vatter, S., Muhinyi, A., Garrett, C., and Henderson, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: Clinical Psychology Review
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0272-7358
• ISSN (Online): 1873-7811
• Published Online: 03 September 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Clinical Psychology Review 82: 101906
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
190732		Trial of Healthy Relationship Initiatives for the Very Early-years (THRIVE): a Three-Arm Randomised Control Trial for Mothers Identified as Vulnerable in Pregnancy and their Babies who are at High...	Marion Henderson	National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)	11/3002/01	SHW - MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit
72763	1	Social Relationships & Health Improvement	Lisa McDaid	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MC_UU_12017/11	HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
72763	1	Social Relationships & Health Improvement	Lisa McDaid	Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)	SPHSU11	HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit