Research Article

Development of the Parent Form Attachment Styles Scale for Children Aged 3-6: A Psychometric Validity and Reliability Study

Volume: 13 Number: 1 May 20, 2026
TR EN

Development of the Parent Form Attachment Styles Scale for Children Aged 3-6: A Psychometric Validity and Reliability Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the validity and reliability of the Attachment Styles Scale – Parent Form, which was developed to assess the attachment styles of children aged 3 to 6. To conduct the validity and reliability analyses of the scale, 480 parents were reached using an convenience sampling method. According to the reliability analysis results of the Attachment Styles Scale – Parent Form, Cronbach's Alpha values were found to be 0.75 for secure attachment, 0.75 for anxious attachment, and 0.78 for avoidant attachment. The results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis conducted to evaluate the construct validity of the scale show that the model fit is at an acceptable level. Furthermore, the fact that all items have good item discrimination index values is evidence of the scale's strong internal validity. Item factor loadings ranged from .44 to .50 for secure attachment, .37 to .79 for anxious attachment, and .51 to .76 for avoidant attachment. The analyses revealed that the scale possesses both convergent and divergent validity. Moreover, it was determined that the scale maintains measurement invariance across genders. According to the criterion validity results, secure attachment shows positive correlations with emotion regulation and negative correlations with lability and negativity. Anxious and avoidant attachment has been found to have a negative relationship with emotion regulation and a positive relationship with lability -negativity. In conclusion, the developed scale can be considered a valid and reliable measurement tool.

Keywords

References

  1. Acar, A., & Soydan, S. (2023). Bağlanma güvensizliği tarama envanterinin (2–5 yaş) Türkçeye uyarlama çalışması. Erken Çocukluk Çalışmaları Dergisi (Journal of Early Childhood Studies), 7(2), 143–161. https://doi.org/10.24130/eccdjecs.1967202372500
  2. Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. Erlbaum.
  3. Altan, Ö. (2006). The effects of maternal socialization and temperament on children’s emotion regulation [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Koç University.
  4. Awang, Z. (2012). Structural equation modeling using AMOS graphic. Universiti Teknologi MARA Press.
  5. Bartholomew, K., & Horowitz, L. M. (1991). Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four-category model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(2), 226–244. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.61.2.226
  6. Bayram, N. (2013). Yapısal eşitlik modellemesine giriş (3. baskı). Ezgi Kitabevi.
  7. Berlin, L. J., Cassidy, J., & Appleyard, K. (2008). The influence of early attachments on other relationships. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (pp. 333–347). Guilford Press.
  8. Bowlby, J. (1982). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment (2nd ed.). Basic Books. (Original work published 1969)

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Psychological Counseling and Guidance (Other), Early Childhood Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

May 20, 2026

Submission Date

September 8, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 4, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 1

APA
Kara, İ., & Çelik, M. (2026). Development of the Parent Form Attachment Styles Scale for Children Aged 3-6: A Psychometric Validity and Reliability Study. Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 13(1), 46-69. https://doi.org/10.21666/muefd.1780043
AMA
1.Kara İ, Çelik M. Development of the Parent Form Attachment Styles Scale for Children Aged 3-6: A Psychometric Validity and Reliability Study. MSKU Journal of Education. 2026;13(1):46-69. doi:10.21666/muefd.1780043
Chicago
Kara, İdris, and Metin Çelik. 2026. “Development of the Parent Form Attachment Styles Scale for Children Aged 3-6: A Psychometric Validity and Reliability Study”. Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 13 (1): 46-69. https://doi.org/10.21666/muefd.1780043.
EndNote
Kara İ, Çelik M (May 1, 2026) Development of the Parent Form Attachment Styles Scale for Children Aged 3-6: A Psychometric Validity and Reliability Study. Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 13 1 46–69.
IEEE
[1]İ. Kara and M. Çelik, “Development of the Parent Form Attachment Styles Scale for Children Aged 3-6: A Psychometric Validity and Reliability Study”, MSKU Journal of Education, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 46–69, May 2026, doi: 10.21666/muefd.1780043.
ISNAD
Kara, İdris - Çelik, Metin. “Development of the Parent Form Attachment Styles Scale for Children Aged 3-6: A Psychometric Validity and Reliability Study”. Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 13/1 (May 1, 2026): 46-69. https://doi.org/10.21666/muefd.1780043.
JAMA
1.Kara İ, Çelik M. Development of the Parent Form Attachment Styles Scale for Children Aged 3-6: A Psychometric Validity and Reliability Study. MSKU Journal of Education. 2026;13:46–69.
MLA
Kara, İdris, and Metin Çelik. “Development of the Parent Form Attachment Styles Scale for Children Aged 3-6: A Psychometric Validity and Reliability Study”. Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 13, no. 1, May 2026, pp. 46-69, doi:10.21666/muefd.1780043.
Vancouver
1.İdris Kara, Metin Çelik. Development of the Parent Form Attachment Styles Scale for Children Aged 3-6: A Psychometric Validity and Reliability Study. MSKU Journal of Education. 2026 May 1;13(1):46-69. doi:10.21666/muefd.1780043