The assessment of parenting using the parental bonding instrument: two or three factors?
BACKGROUND
The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) is a widely used measure of parenting, and is usually used to measure two parenting dimensions, care and over-protection. However, there is disagreement in the research literature about whether the PBI is best used as a two-factor or a three-factor measure.


METHODS
PBI scores from 583 US and 236 UK students were factor analysed to assess whether a three-factor solution was more satisfactory than a two-factor solution.


RESULTS
A three-factor (care, denial of psychological autonomy and encouragement of behavioural freedom) solution was found to be more satisfactory than a two-factor solution. Using the three-factor solution, group differences that were not apparent with the two-factor solution were identified and it was found that the parenting behaviours associated with depression could be more accurately identified.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors suggest that with modifications, the PBI could be used to measure three parenting variables (care, denial of psychological autonomy and encouragement of behavioural freedom), which would allow greater accuracy of prediction and a greater understanding of underlying processes.
Murphy
E
E
Royal Holloway, University of London.
Brewin
C R
CR
Silka
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007207:Individuation; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D009769:Object Attachment; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States