6,490
Views
114
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

Mary Ainsworth’s legacy: a systematic review of observational instruments measuring parental sensitivity

&
Pages 485-506 | Received 03 Mar 2013, Accepted 18 Jun 2013, Published online: 04 Dec 2013
 

Abstract

Since Mary Ainsworth’s formulation of the Sensitivity-Insensitivity to Infant Signals and Communications observational scale, new instruments have been developed to observe parental sensitivity. In this paper, we provide an overview of eight commonly used observational instruments to measure parental sensitivity. Their similarities and differences in comparison to the original Ainsworth sensitivity construct and its applications will be discussed. Consistent with the search criteria, each of the instruments clearly includes the key elements of Ainsworth’s definition of sensitivity. Notable deviations from the original scale are the use of composite scales rather than a single global scale and the related inclusion of new elements, and specifically the inclusion of positive affect as an indicator of sensitivity. Further, most of the instruments have a wider scope than Ainsworth’s sensitivity scale in terms of target age groups and the assessment of sensitivity in fathers. We discuss the interpretation of the sensitivity construct depending on variations in how the construct is defined in different observational instruments, and advances in the application of the construct.

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support of a grant from the New Opportunities for Research Funding Agency Co-operation in Europe (NORFACE, awarded to JM as co-PI) and a European Research Council Starting Grant (awarded to JM).

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.