Maternal Post-Attachment Scale: Validation Studies to the Portuguese Population
O. Nunes1, M. Pires1, R. Brites1, J. Hipólito1, M. Lourdes Vasconcelos1, E. Spitz1
1Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa University of Lorraine, Psychology Research Center, CIP-UAL
Due to the relevance of attachment as predictor for maternal disorders and family functioning, this study’s aim is to validate the 19 items Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale-MPAS (Condon & Corkindale, 1998) to Portuguese population. After back-translation process and a pre-test, MPAS was applied in a cross-sectional study to 219 women, aged from 18-47 (M=30.97; SD=5.49), mostly married (83.1%), with a 1-12 months child (M=7.01; SD=3.23). After item’s exclusion due to lack of variance or significant correlations, KMO (0.71) and Bartlett´s test (p<.001) enabled the PC Analysis -Varimax rotation. One item eliminated due to low factor loading. A two-factor solution emerged, explaining 30.45% of total: 1st factor-attachment quality (7 items; ? =.65); 2nd factor-maternity feelings (7 items; ?=.56). The final version (14 items; ?=.69), is adequate for future studies. Although relational and maternal experiencing dimensions are coherent with attachment theory, this structure doesn't support the original tri-factor model (Pleasure in proximity; Acceptance and tolerance; Competence). Cultural and social desirability factors may explain current results.