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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Internal structure and reliability of the Attachment Insecurity Screening Inventory (AISI) for children age 6 to 12

Authors: Anouk Spruit, Inge Wissink, Marc J. Noom, Cristina Colonnesi, Nelleke Polderman, Lucia Willems, Charlotte Barning, Geert Jan J. M. Stams

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

The aim of the present study was to examine the internal structure and reliability of the Attachment Insecurity Screening Inventory (AISI) 6–12. The AISI 6–12 years is a parent-report questionnaire for assessing the parents’ perspective on the quality of the attachment relationship with their child aged between 6 and 12 years.

Methods

The sample consisted of 681 mothers and fathers reporting on 372 children (72.3% adoption parents, 14.9% non-biological primary care takers including foster parents, and 12.8% biological parents). The internal structure was assessed with multilevel confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and the reliability of the scores with Cronbach’s and ordinal alphas.

Results

Multilevel CFA confirmed a three-factor model of avoidant, ambivalent/resistant and disorganized attachment. Multi-group CFA indicated full configural and metric measurement invariance, and partial scalar and strict measurement invariance across mothers and fathers. Reliability coefficients were found to be sufficient.

Conclusions

This study showed the potential of using parental reports in the initial screening of attachment related problems, especially considering the practical approach of parental reports. However, further development of the AISI 6–12 years seems important to increase the validity of the AISI 6–12 years. In addition, future studies are necessary to replicate the current findings, and to strengthen the evidence that the AISI 6–12 years is appropriate for the use in middle childhood and validly assesses the parents’ perspective on attachment insecurities in their child.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Internal structure and reliability of the Attachment Insecurity Screening Inventory (AISI) for children age 6 to 12
Authors
Anouk Spruit
Inge Wissink
Marc J. Noom
Cristina Colonnesi
Nelleke Polderman
Lucia Willems
Charlotte Barning
Geert Jan J. M. Stams
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1608-z

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