Measuring maternal responsiveness

The purpose of this study was to review current research studies examining maternal responsiveness to locate self-report instruments, and to identify variables in these self-report instruments used to describe maternal responsiveness. The electronic databases, Medline, PsychLit, SocLit, and Cinahl were searched with the following key words: maternal responsiveness, maternal sensitivity, maternal attachment, maternal response, and responsiveness. Articles were obtained, assessed, and agreed upon for their usefulness to the study by the researcher and research assistant. Criteria included: articles must include key word, maternal responsiveness, in the title or a self-report instrument measuring maternal responsiveness. Fifty-two eligible studies were identified from the literature, read by two reviewers and both reviewers confirmed its applicability. All included studies were summarized in tabular form. References with the key words in the title were extracted from the literature to examine the measurement strategies. Specifically, the researchers were looking for self-report measures of maternal responsiveness. The trials identified by this review addressed limited aspects of communication and focused solely on antenatal care. Current self-report instruments do not contain the variables of maternal awareness, maternal recognition, and maternal reflection. Future research is needed in this area of instrumentation and maternal responsiveness.