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Parental considerations about their childs’ mental health: Validating the German adaptation of the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas S Wildner
  • Su Mevsim Küçükakyüz
  • Anton K G Marx
  • Tobias Nolte
  • Corinna Reck
  • Peter Fonagy
  • Patrick Luyten
  • Alexandra von Tettenborn
  • Mitho Müller
  • Anna-Lena Zietlow
  • Christian F J Woll-Weber

Abstract

Introduction: Parental Reflective Functioning describes the parents’ ability to view their child as motivated by mental states. The Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ) represents an 18-item and three-factor self-report measure. Our goal was to conduct the first German validation study. Method: In a community sample of 378 mothers of children aged 10.2–78.6 months, we used Confirmatory Factor Analysis with a cross-validation approach to assess model fit. Reliability was measured using Cronbach’s α and McDonald’s ω. Concurrent validity was assessed using correlations with relevant constructs. Results: The three-factor structure of the original validation could be confirmed. The German model only needed minor modifications: two items had to be removed, and one error covariance was added. The resulting 16-item questionnaire with the three subscales “Pre-mentalizing”, “Interest and Curiosity about Mental States”, and “Certainty about Mental States” was successfully cross-validated (CFI = .94, TLI = .93, SRMR = .07, RMSEA = .04 (CI [.01, .06])). These factors were related in theoretically expected ways to parental attachment dimensions, emotional availability, parenting stress, and infant attachment status. Conclusion: While reliability could still be improved, the German 16-item version of the PRFQ represents a valid measure of parental reflective functioning.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas S Wildner & Su Mevsim Küçükakyüz & Anton K G Marx & Tobias Nolte & Corinna Reck & Peter Fonagy & Patrick Luyten & Alexandra von Tettenborn & Mitho Müller & Anna-Lena Zietlow & Christian F J Wo, 2024. "Parental considerations about their childs’ mental health: Validating the German adaptation of the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(12), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0314074
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0314074
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    References listed on IDEAS

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