Instruments for assessing parent-infant relationships: a scoping review protocol
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background The parent-infant relationship plays a central role in early emotional, cognitive, and social development. Difficulties in bonding, interaction, attachment, or parental sensitivity during the first two years of life may have lasting consequences for children and families, making early identification essential for timely support and intervention. Although a range of instruments has been developed to assess parent-infant relational processes, the evidence remains dispersed, and no comprehensive mapping of instruments specifically applicable from birth to 24 months has been identified. This scoping review aims to map the instruments used to assess parent-infant relationships during the first 24 months of life and to describe their main characteristics. Methods This scoping review protocol follows the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. Studies describing instruments used to assess the parent-infant relationship among parents of typically developing infants aged 0–24 months will be considered across any clinical, community, research, or cultural context. Eligible instruments may assess bonding, interaction, attachment, parental sensitivity, or related relational dimensions. Studies involving preterm infants, infants with medical conditions or developmental disorders, or instruments focused exclusively on parental stress or mental health without explicit assessment of relational dynamics will be excluded. A three-step search strategy will be used to identify published and unpublished studies and grey literature. Two reviewers will independently screen records, extract data using a piloted charting form, and summarise findings in tables and descriptive narrative form. The final scoping review will be reported in accordance with the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). This review will provide an overview of available instruments, their characteristics, contexts of use, psychometric properties, adaptations, and short-form versions. This protocol is registered in the Open Science Framework (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/HRVX9).
Source: Open Research Europe
Authors: Sónia Brandão, Patrícia Souto, Andreia Soares Gonçalves, Rosa Silva, Paula Prata, Anat Talmon, Ewa Gieysztor, Patrícia Gonçalves, Semra Pinar, Nicola Carone, Tânia Brandão, Alena Lochmannová, Özlem Şensoy, Esra Ardahan Akgül, Kristiina Uriko, Seda Ardahan Sevgili, Elif Bulut, Dora d'Orsi, Rajesh Shigdel, Demet Gülaldı, Otília Freitas, Pelin Dikmen-Yildiz, Lence Miloseva, Mirlinda Markaj, Gilberta Sousa, Pinar Gencpinar, Aycin Ezgi Onel, Carmen Power, Özlem Koç, Tuğçe Sönmez, Diana Azevedo, Edanur Tar Tar Bolacali, Bahar Aksoy, Burcu Kömürcü Akik, Ayça Demir Yıldırım, Hazal Özdemir Koyu, Wilson Abreu, Tuğba Yılmaz Esencan, Margarida Reis Santos, Mário Santos, Remziye Can, Anna-Lena Zietlow, Rafael A. Caparros-Gonzalez
Institutions: Universidade do Porto, Escola Superior de Enfermagem da Universidade do Porto, Universidade Politécnica de Viana do Castelo, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Wroclaw Medical University, University of Leeds, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, University of Rome Tor Vergata, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, William James Center for Research, Charles University, Istanbul University, Izmir Kâtip Çelebi University, Tallinn University, Ege University, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi, University of Bergen, Üsküdar University, Universidade da Madeira, Kırklareli University, Goce Delcev University, Comenius University Bratislava, Tarsus University, University of Minho, Ahi Evran University, Akdeniz University, Ankara University, Gazi University, Instituto Politécnico de Santarém, Technische Universität Dresden, Universidad de Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $841
Award: G6373889978
OpenAlex ID: W7161390701