Standardization and Investigation of Psychometric Properties of the Attachment Style Classification Questionnaire (ASCQ) in 6 – 12 Year Old Children
Subject Areas :Arezoo Karimi Farsani 1 , Mansoureh Bahramipour Isfahani 2
1 - Msc Student of Cilinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
Keywords: standardization, psychometric properties, scale, attachment style, children,
Abstract :
Attachment is a mechanism that has been developed during evolution process to protect human infants and increase chances of their survival up to the adult stage. The present study was an attempt to standardize and investigate the psychometric properties of the Fanzi-Dutton (1996) 15-item Attachment Style Classification Questionnaire for Latency Age Children (6 - 12 years old) in Isfahan. The present research falls within the category of descriptive validation studies. The population of the study encompasses all 6 – 12 year old primary school children in Isfahan during the academic year 2020-2021. Convenient sampling was used to select 300 children (150 females and 150 males). Children aged 8 years or higher and children aged 6-8 years completed the questionnaire through self-report and interview (within the framework of porsline) respectively. Cronbach's alpha coefficient, structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis carried out within the framework of SPSS.26 and Lisrel 8.80 software were used to measure the construct validity of the questionnaire. The results showed that the model is favorable in terms of fitness and the general structure of the relationships can be confirmed according to the data obtained from first-order factor analysis (IFI, NFI, CFI, RFI and GFI>0.90 and PNFI > 5.5, The root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) < 0.088; and normed chi-square (X2 / DF) <3). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the entire ASCQ scale and its subscales (secure attachment = 0.72, avoidant-dismissive insecure attachment = 0.70, and anxious insecure attachment = 0.71) is greater than 0.70, which indicates acceptable reliability of the scale. According to the ASCQ validity and reliability results, it can be argued that this scale is a reliable and valid instrument that can be used to effectively investigate attachment styles. In addition, the scale is found to be applicable in Iranian society.
