Measuring PROMIS® Social Relationships in Early Childhood

Objective Apply the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) mixed-methods approach to develop and validate new parent-report measures of young children’s (1–5 years) family and peer relationships that conceptually align to those for 5–17 year olds. Methods Expert input, parent interviews, and reviews of theoretical and empirical literature were used to develop draft item pools, which were administered in two waves of panel surveys (N = 1,750). Psychometric evaluation was conducted using item response theory-based methods. Scores were normed to the general U.S. population. Initial validation analyses were conducted using Pearson’s correlations and analysis of variance to examine known-group differences between children with various health conditions. Results Experts and parents confirmed the content validity of existing PROMIS family and peer relationships domain frameworks and suggested adding child–caregiver interactions and empathic behaviors, respectively. Bi-factor model analysis supported sufficient unidimensionality where family and peer relationships were modeled as distinct subdomains of a broader concept, Social Relationships. The new measure was robust in discriminating young children with poor social relationships. Correlational and known-group analyses revealed positive associations with general health and well-being and negative associations with emotional and physical distress. Conclusions The PROMIS Early Childhood Parent-Report Social Relationships item bank enables clinicians and researchers a brief, efficient, and precise way to evaluate early relational health. Subdomain short forms also offer the ability to assess specific components (i.e., child–caregiver, family, and peer) for more targeted interventions and analyses.