TITLE:
Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Japanese Version of the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale
AUTHORS:
Mami Yamamoto, Fumie Takauma, Katsuhiko Tada, Kaori Baba, Toshinori Kitamura
KEYWORDS:
Bonding Disorders, Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale, Factor Analysis, Measurement Invariance
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Reproductive Sciences,
Vol.11 No.4,
November
29,
2023
ABSTRACT: Background: Bonding disorders affect the growth and development of infants. In
Japan, the Japanese version of the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS-J) is
widely used for early detection of bonding disorders. Repeated use of a
questionnaire has problems of reduced validity. In order to correctly detect
bonding disorders at multiple time points, it is necessary to confirm the
measurement invariance of the scale. Baba et
al. reported that invariance of the MIBS-J factor structure could only be
obtained by abridging the scale into three items. Purpose: The aim of
this study was to 1) confirm the factor structure and measurement invariance of
the MIBS-J between two measurement times and 2) to examine factors that can be
used without being affected by measurement time in order to identify item that
contribute to measure met invariance. Methods: We analysed the data of
1049 and 878 mothers with a neonate collected in two waves: 5 days (Wave 1) and
1 month postpartum (Wave 2). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were
conducted on the data randomly divided into two groups in each wave. Results: The three-item model (MIBS-J items 1, 6, and 8) was most accepted. Measurement
invariance and structural invariance were confirmed in the model. This was
consistent with Baba et al.’s model. Conclusion: The three MIBS-J items showed measurement invariance and structural invariance
in Japanese mothers during 1 month postpartum.