Evaluation of psychometric properties of three questionnaires addressing early experiences in family context

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Family is the primary setting where children develop their social skills. Early experiences may represent protective or risk factors that interact with their vulnerability to or resilience against mental disorders in adulthood. The assessment of the family history of relevant emotional experiences is problematic, and the use of psychometric instruments may help overcome certain methodological limitations. OBJECTIVES: To develop three sub-questionnaires for the assessment of early emotional experiences in the family context in childhood through adolescence. These instruments are Portuguese adaptations of the Family Background Questionnaire (FBQ), addressing aspects of parental care and family environment, and are retrospectively administered to adults. METHODS: Three composite versions of the FBQ addressing (1) Paternal care, (2) Maternal care and (3) Family environment were produced. Questionnaires were administered to 280 participants. The assessment of the psychometric properties of these questionnaires was based on the determination of internal consistency, factor analysis and Spearman's correlations. RESULTS: All three questionnaires proved adequate for the assessment of their respective domains. DISCUSSION: The objective assessment of early emotional experiences in the family context yields important insights to the comprehension of psychological development, with both clinical and research implications.