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Parental Bonding Instrument
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About Parental Bonding Instrument
Scale Name
Parental Bonding Instrument
Author Details
George E. Parker, Robert B. Parker, and David W. Tupler
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
In the late 1970s, a quest to understand the link between childhood experiences and adult mental health led to the creation of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Psychologists George E. Parker, Robert B. Parker, and David W. Tupler aimed to delve into the realm of parent-child relationships, specifically focusing on how warmth, affection, and control shaped an individual’s emotional landscape.
The PBI emerged as a self-assessment tool, empowering individuals to reflect on their early experiences with their mothers and fathers. Through 25 statements, it probed memories of parental behavior from birth to age 16, capturing the essence of warmth and affection alongside control and restriction. The instrument yielded four key scores: warmth, control, care (the sum of both), and protection (the difference between warmth and control).
These scores weren’t mere statistics; they painted a picture of the parent-child bond. A parent high in warmth was perceived as loving and emotionally available, while a high score in control indicated an atmosphere of overprotection and restriction. The interplay between these two dimensions, reflected in the care and protection scores, offered a nuanced understanding of the overall relationship quality.
The PBI quickly gained traction, becoming a valuable tool for researchers and clinicians alike. Studies explored the connections between parental bonding patterns and a range of psychological outcomes, from depression and anxiety to personality disorders. In the clinical setting, the PBI shed light on potential sources of emotional distress, paving the way for more informed therapy approaches.
Today, the PBI remains a widely used instrument, its influence spanning decades and research disciplines. It stands as a testament to the enduring desire to understand the roots of our emotional well-being, highlighting the profound impact of early relationships on our mental and emotional journey.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Eligibility: The PBI is suitable for individuals aged 16 and above who have clear memories of their childhood experiences with their parents.
- Informed Consent: Explain the purpose of the PBI and ensure informed consent from the participant before proceeding.
- Materials: Provide a copy of the PBI questionnaire, scoring sheet (if not using online scoring), and a writing utensil.
- Clear Instructions: Briefly explain the questionnaire format and scoring system. Emphasize the importance of answering honestly based on their own memories, not societal expectations.
- Individual Sections: The PBI has two sections, one for each parent (mother and father). Guide the participant through each section separately.
- Statement Rating: Each section consists of 25 statements about parental behavior. Participants rate each statement on a 4-point scale (1 = Very true, 2 = Somewhat true, 3 = Not very true, 4 = Very false) based on their recollections of their parent’s behavior from birth to age 16.
- Calculating Scores: Once completed, scores are calculated for each parent on four dimensions: warmth, control, care (warmth + control), and protection (warmth – control). Scoring instructions and formulas are provided in the PBI manual or online resources.
Reliability and Validity
The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) has been extensively tested and demonstrates good reliability and validity, making it a widely used tool in research and clinical settings. Here’s a breakdown of its psychometric properties:
- Internal Consistency: The PBI scales show high internal consistency, meaning items within each scale measure the same underlying construct consistently.
- Test-Retest Reliability: Scores on the PBI remain relatively stable when retested over time, indicating good test-retest reliability. Studies have shown that scores remain consistent even after several years.
- Inter-Rater Reliability: When different individuals score the PBI, their scores often correlate highly, indicating good inter-rater reliability.
- Construct Validity: The PBI scales measure what they are intended to measure (parental warmth and control). This is supported by various studies that show how PBI scores relate to other measures of attachment and parenting styles.
- Convergent Validity: The PBI scores correlate with other measures of similar constructs, such as self-reported attachment styles and parental reports of behavior. This further strengthens the validity of the PBI.
- Discriminant Validity: The PBI scores show distinct patterns depending on different parenting styles or clinical diagnoses, as predicted by the theory behind the instrument.
Available Versions
25-Items
Reference
Parker, G., Tupling, H., & Brown, L. B. (1979). A parental bonding instrument. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 52(1), 1-10.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PBI?
Self-report questionnaire measuring perceived parental warmth and control in childhood.
Who uses it?
Researchers and clinicians to understand early attachment and its impact on mental health.
How does it work?
Individuals rate statements about parental behavior during ages 0-16.
What does it measure?
Warmth, control, care (both combined), and protection (warmth minus control).
Is it reliable and valid?
Yes, it has good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent/discriminant validity.
Are there limitations?
Yes, self-report bias, cultural specificity, and focus on early childhood.
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