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Validation of the AMBIANCE‐brief: An observational screening instrument for disrupted caregiving
Author(s) -
Cooke Jessica E.,
Eirich Rachel,
Racine Nicole,
LyonsRuth Karlen,
Madigan Sheri
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/imhj.21851
Subject(s) - observational study , session (web analytics) , psychology , reliability (semiconductor) , protocol (science) , observational methods in psychology , convergent validity , validity , clinical psychology , medicine , applied psychology , psychometrics , internal consistency , power (physics) , physics , alternative medicine , pathology , quantum mechanics , world wide web , computer science
Resulting from a community‐identified need for a well‐validated indicator of caregiving difficulties for use in practice settings, a brief form of the Atypical Maternal Behavior Instrument for Assessment and Classification System (AMBIANCE) was developed for use as a screening instrument. Prior to its dissemination, this study aimed to assess the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the AMBIANCE‐Brief. Adolescent mother–infant dyads ( N = 69) participated in the Strange Situation Procedure, as well as play sessions with and without toys. Maternal disrupted caregiving was coded from the play sessions using the AMBIANCE and AMBIANCE‐Brief. The AMBIANCE‐Brief demonstrated convergent validity with the AMBIANCE in the play session with toys ( r = .65, p < .001) and without toys ( r = .61, p < .001). Concurrent validity of the AMBIANCE‐Brief was also demonstrated in relation to infant attachment disorganization in the play session with toys ( r = .36, p < .05) and without toys ( r = .32, p < .01). These findings suggest a shorter protocol for assessing disrupted caregiving may be feasible and valid for use in community settings. Future studies are in progress to train community practitioners in the use of the AMBIANCE‐Brief and to evaluate their reliability.