Cross-cultural reliability and validity of the Multidimensional Neglectful Behavior Scale Adult Recall Short Form

To provide data on the cross-cultural reliability of the Adult Recall Short Form of the Multidimensional Neglectful Behavior Scale (MNBS), and also illustrative validity evidence. The MNBS includes items on four aspects of neglectful behavior: cognitive, emotional, physical, and supervisory.

The data were obtained by questionnaires completed by a convenience sample of 7179 students at 33 universities in 17 countries.

The alpha coefficient of internal consistency for the entire sample was .72. By site, the coefficients ranged from one site with .55-12 sites in the .60-.69 range, and 20 sites with alpha of .70 or higher. The validity of the scale was indicated by low confounding with social desirability response set in all 33 cultural contexts, and by the results of construct validly analyses which controlled for physical maltreatment found that students who were victims of neglectful behavior as a child were more likely than other students to have physically assaulted a dating partner in the previous 12 months.

Although the results are from a relatively privileged sample, they revealed high rates of neglectful behavior and are sufficiently promising to encourage use of the Adult Recall Short Form of the MNBS in a variety of cultural settings.