Thai Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-Short Version for Measuring Parent-Child Attachment

Abstract

This methodological, cross-sectional psychometric validation study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-Short Form (ECR-S) into Thai for parent self-assessment of parent-child attachment, resulting in the Thai-ECR-SP, and to evaluate its psychometric properties. The study was conducted in two phases: translation and cultural adaptation, including expert review and pretesting, followed by psychometric testing among 299 parents of children aged 3–13 years. Most participants were female, and parent age ranged from 23 to 58 years. Content validity was assessed using the item-objective congruence index. Factorial validity was examined using confirmatory factor analysis, and internal consistency reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. The findings supported the content validity and factorial validity of the scale, along with satisfactory internal consistency. The revised two-factor structure representing attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety was supported, resulting in a final 9-item version. The overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was .86. The Avoidance subscale, consisting of four items, yielded an alpha of .78, while the Anxiety subscale, consisting of five items, yielded an alpha of .76. These findings provide preliminary support for the reliability and factorial validity of the Thai-ECR-SP as a brief tool for assessing parent-child attachment within the Thai cultural context.