TITLE:
The Psychometric Properties and Factor Structure of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire in Japanese Mothers
AUTHORS:
Hitoshi Kaneko, Shuji Honjo
KEYWORDS:
Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ), Postpartum Depression, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Factor Structure
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.5 No.9,
July
30,
2014
ABSTRACT: The aim
of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Postpartum
Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) in Japanese mothers. Additionally, we investigated
the association between postpartum bonding and postnatal depression. The participants
of this study were 1786 Japanese mothers, recruited during their infants’ 3
months check-ups at a public health center. The mothers completed the PBQ and
the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). We examined the factor
structure of the PBQ. However, we were unable to confirm the original 4
factors. A 1-factor solution was extracted by omitting 9 items that did not
have significant loadings onto the single factor. According to the cut-off
values of the original PBQ, the positive rate was 7.7%. The PBQ score was
moderately correlated with the EPDS score. The abridged 16-item Japanese
version of the PBQ can be used as a reliable screening tool during check-ups
for Japanese mothers. Health practitioners should pay attention to mothers who
have bonding disturbances at postpartum.