[The parental bonding instrument: evaluation of psychometric properties with Turkish university students]

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) for Turkish university students.

Method: A total of 336 (% 61.5) female and 211 (%38.5) male students attending Ankara and Pamukkale Universities participated in the study. The mean age of the participants is 21.55 (SD=1.65) with a range of 18-26. The construct validity is examined by exploratory factor analysis; the criterion related validity is assessed by examining the correlation of the PBI with two instruments namely "The Parental Attitude Research Instrument (PARI)" and "The Parenting Style Inventory (PSI)". The reliability of the PBI was assessed by Cronbach's Alpha, test-retest and split-half reliability statistics.

Results: The factor analysis for Turkish university students yielded two factor solutions for both parents as original PBI. Nevertheless the items related to the controlling behaviors are loaded on the care factor instead of the overprotection as found by Parker et. al. (1979). Thus these two factors are named as care/control and overprotection subscales. Additionaly, PBI is found to demonstrate generally a high level of correlations with PARI and PSI supporting criterion-related validity. Finally, the reliability studies of the PBI demonstrated that it is a highly reliable scale and showed stability for a period of three weeks interval.

Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the PBI is found to be satisfactory and could be used to assess parental attachment. It is suggested that further studies may illuminate the clinical value of the PBI and quantify parental contribution to psychopathology.