Reflective Functioning on the Parent Development Interview: validity and reliability in relation to socio-demographic factors. Issue 3 (3rd May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sleed, Michelle; Slade, Arietta; Fonagy, Peter
• Is Part Of: Attachment & human development. Volume 22:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 310
• Page End: 331
• Publication Date: 2020-05-03
• Subjects: Parent Development Interview -- PDI -- reflective functioning -- psychometric properties -- parental mentalizing; Attachment behavior -- Periodicals; Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; 155.418
• DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2018.1555603
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-6734

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Reflective Functioning coding of the Parent Development Interview (PDI-RF) is a widely used method for assessing a caregivers' capacity for mentalization. However, little is known about its psychometric properties. The aim of this study was to examine the distributions and discriminant and criterion validity of the PDI-RF scale in relation to a number of demographic and socioeconomic factors. Mothers of infants and toddlers ( N = 323) from low, medium, and high-risk samples were interviewed with the PDI and transcripts were coded for RF. Demographic and socio-economic data were recorded. The PDI-RF scale showed high inter-rater reliability, internal consistency, and criterion validity. Modest associations with some sociodemographic variables and PDI-RF were found, but together these only accounted for a small amount of variance in the measure, suggesting adequate discriminant validity. Overall, the scale had good psychometric properties, although some caveats for its use were identified.