| The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a scale that operationalizes the Axis II parent-infant relationship disorders developed by The National Center for Child and Infant Programs (NCCIP). The Parent-Infant Relationship Scale (PIRS) is used to assess the interaction styles of at-risk parent-infant dyads. The scale is easy to complete by professionals and trained nonprofessionals and is applicable to children between birth and three years of age.;The main study principle component analysis reduced the 50-item scale into four primary factors that corresponded well to the NCCIP parent-infant disorders. In addition, the empirically based item analysis yielded internally consistent scores. A Chronbach's alpha estimate of internal consistency produced coefficient alpha ranging from .83 to .98. The stability of the PIRS across raters was found to be moderately high (r = .78) with subscale correlations ranging from .65 to .80. In addition, the PIRS yielded stable scores over time (r = .96) with subscale correlations ranging from .85 to .96. As predicted, the PIRS correlated to a moderately high degree with the criterion measures, the HOME (-.744) and the PIR-GAS (-.781). A discriminant function analysis was used to predict the presence and absence of relationship disorders. The PIRS was found to correctly predict relationship disorders 67.9%, and the absence of disorders 76.6% of the time. Although the PIRS does not add to the prediction of a relationship disorder when accounting for the HOME and the PIR-GAS, the rating scale has strong merits because it corresponds well with the NCCIP parent-infant diagnostic criteria. In addition, the scale can be used to track developmental trajectories, screen at-risk dyads for services, and guide treatment goals and objectives. |
