Rasch analysis of the parental reflective functioning questionnaire: A critical examination of data from a non-clinical sample of mothers and fathers with a one-year-old child

Abstract

Rasch measurement analysis and theory was used to critically examine data from the recently developed Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ) for both mothers and fathers in the context of the longitudinal Peel Child Health Study (N = 120 families). Data from a subset of seven items proved to be a valid measure of child-focused parental mentalizing (PRFQ-CF). Properties of the PRFQ-CF are described in detail and the shortcomings of other PRFQ subscales are identified.