The Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting Scale – Infant Version

Psychometric Properties and Factor Structure in a Sample of Portuguese Mothers in the Postpartum Period

Abstract

The present study aims to explore the factor structure and psychometric properties of an adapted version of the Portuguese version of the Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting Scale for parents of infants aged 0 to 12 months (the IM-P-I). Two studies were conducted. The first study included 560 postpartum mothers and examined the factor structure and internal consistency of the IM-P-I. The second study included 295 postpartum mothers, with the goal of cross-validating the factor structure of the questionnaire and examining its internal consistency and construct validity. In both studies, the original correlated five-factor model (which included the subscales Listening with Full Attention, Emotional Awareness of the Child, Compassion for the Child, Self-Regulation in Parenting, and Nonjudgmental Acceptance of Parental Functioning) was the best-fitting model. Adequate Cronbach’s alpha values were found for the total scale and for all subscales, except for the Emotional Awareness of the Child subscale. Moderate to strong negative correlations were found between the IM-P-I subscales and anxious and depressive symptomatology and emotional dysregulation. This study shows that the IM-P-I is a psychometrically adequate measure of mindful parenting in the postpartum period.