The Brief Attachment Scale (BAS-16): A short measure of infant attachment

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Child Psychology
• Attachment Theory

Background:

• Insecure infant attachment is linked to later socioemotional difficulties.
• Early identification of at-risk infants is crucial for timely support.
• Existing measures of infant attachment lack brief, validated options.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a brief version of the Attachment Q-Sort (AQS).
• To create a reliable and valid screening tool for infant attachment.
• To facilitate early identification of infants at risk for insecure attachment.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the National Institute of Child Health and Development Study of Child Care and Youth Development (N=1,364).
• Employed factor analysis and Item Response Theory to select items for the brief scale.
• Assessed convergent validity using the Strange Situation Procedure and examined correlations with sensitivity, externalizing behaviors, and social competence.

Main Results:

• Developed the Brief Attachment Scale (BAS-16), comprising two 8-item scales: harmonious interaction and proximity-seeking behaviors.
• The BAS-16 demonstrated comparable convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity to the full AQS.
• The scale effectively measures key aspects of infant-caregiver attachment.

Conclusions:

• The BAS-16 shows potential as a brief screening measure for insecure infant attachment.
• Further validation in diverse samples is recommended to solidify its clinical utility.
• This brief scale can aid in the early identification of infants needing attachment-related support.