Development of a Parental Attachment Response Scale for Early Childhood: Based on Mentalization Theory

Objectives: This study aims to develop a Mentalization-Based Parental Attachment Response Scale (PARS) for early childhood and verify its reliability and validity. Given the importance of parent-child attachment relationships during early childhood, this study aims to develop a psychometrically sound instrument assessing parental responses promoting secure attachment through mentalization theory.Methods: Data were collected from Korean parents of children aged 3–6 years using a domestic online survey. A total of 943 participants (395 development participants and 548 validation participants) completed the development and validation questionnaires on the Mentalization-Based Parental Attachment Response Scale. This study employed a two-phase approach: an initial scale development followed by validation procedures. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis, and correlation analysis.Results: First, the Parental Attachment Response Scale for early childhood was developed to measure attachment with 23 items across 5 factors: connecting (5 items), containing (5 items), holding (4 items), reflecting (5 items), and mirroring (4 items). Second, the scale demonstrated acceptable levels of validity and reliability.Conclusion: This study conceptually defined parental responses that promote attachment in early childhood based on mentalization theory, and developed and validated an instrument to measure these responses. The findings are significant in that they provide a foundation for future research on enhancing parent-child attachment.