Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA) in Different Hispanic Countries: An Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Approach.

Parental burnout is a unique and context-specific syndrome resulting from a chronic imbalance of risks over resources in the parenting domain. The current research aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA) across Spanish-speaking countries with two consecutive studies. In Study 1, we analyzed the data through a bifactor model within an Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) on the pooled sample of participants (N = 1,979) obtaining good fit indices. We then attained measurement invariance across both gender and countries in a set of nested models with gradually increasing parameter constraints. Latent means comparisons across countries showed that among the participants' countries, Chile had the highest parental burnout score, likewise, comparisons across gender evidenced that mothers displayed higher scores than fathers, as shown in previous studies. Reliability coefficients were high. In Study 2 (N = 1,171), we tested the relations between parental burnout and three specific consequences, i.e., escape and suicidal ideations, parental neglect, and parental violence toward one's children. The medium to large associations found provided support for the PBA's predictive validity. Overall, we concluded that the Spanish version of the PBA has good psychometric properties. The results support its relevance for the assessment of parental burnout among Spanish-speaking parents, offering new opportunities for cross-cultural research in the parenting domain.

Mother Behavior Q-Set (MBQS)Dimensionalidad del Q-set del comportamiento materno en muestras de México, Colombia y Uruguay / Mother Behavior Q-Set (MBQS): Dimensionality of the Mother Behavior Q-Set in samples from Mexico, Colombia and Uruguay

La sensibilidad se refiere a la capacidad del cuidador para percibir las señales del niño, interpretarlas correctamente y responder a ellas de manera contingente y apropiada. El Q Set del Comportamiento Materno (MBQS) fue creado a partir de descripciones teóricas y empíricas de la sensibilidad. Los Q-sorts se asocian con la metodología cuantitativa debido a que asignan puntajes; además, combinan la metodología cualitativa al hacer un estudio sistemático de la subjetividad. Son pocos los artículos que se ocupan de explorar el análisis, la validez interna, la confiabilidad o la replicabilidad externa de los Q-sorts. Usualmente los datos se reducen por medio de un análisis de componentes principales o análisis factorial. Sin embargo, en los Q-sorts se correlacionan los participantes para dilucidar las relaciones entre ellos en lugar de correlacionar las variables. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue encontrar evidencia respecto a la validez basada en la estructura interna del MBQS con el apoyo del software R y el paquete qmethod. Colaboraron 37 díadas mexicanas mamá-bebés, 35 colombianas y 24 uruguayas. En el 2002, Posada y colaboradores propusieron siete escalas. Las escalas en las que nuestro modelo factorial presentó un buen ajuste son las que tienen menos ítems, lo cual puede ser indicativo de que la falta de ajuste tiene que ver con la identificación del modelo debido a que se cuenta con pocas observaciones. Consideramos que tanto el uso del MBQS para evaluar la sensibilidad como del paquete qmethod para realizar el análisis resulta novedoso, relevante y pertinente

Sensitivity refers to the caregiver's ability to perceive infant's cues, interpret them correctly, and respond to them in a contingent and appropriate way. The Maternal Behavior Q Set (MBQS) was created from theoretical and empirical descriptions of sensitivity. Q-methodology is associated with the quantitative methodology because it assigns scores; in addition, it combines qualitative methodology by making a systematic study of subjectivity. Few papers are concerned with exploring the analysis, internal validity, reliability, or external replicability of Q studies. Usually analyses reduce data to a few summarizing factors, based on principal component analysis or centroid factor analysis. Q-factor analysis method was developed especially for q-sorted data; it is a by-person factor analysis which is used to identify groups of participants who make sense of a pool of items in comparable way. The aim of this study was to find evidence regarding the validity based on the internal structure of the MBQS using the R software and the qmethod package. Thirty-seven Mexican, 35 Colombian and 24 Uruguayan mother-baby dyads collaborated. In 2002, Posada et al. proposed seven scales. The scales in which our factorial model presented a good fit are those with the fewest items, which may be indicative that the lack of fit has to do with the identification of the model because there are few observations. We consider that both the use of the MBQS to assess sensitivity and the qmethod package to perform the analysis is novel, relevant and pertinent.