Criterion validity of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire using an observer-rated measure of mother-baby bonding as a reference.

Currently, there are no studies available on the criterion validity of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) that use an observer-rated measure of mother-baby bonding as a reference. Thus, this study analyses the PBQ using an observer-rated measure of mother-baby. This is a cross-sectional study of 100 women and their babies who were recruited via convenience sampling. The diagnostic capacity of the PBQ was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC). The ROC curves had AUC values ranging from 0.399 (95%CI: 0.227-0.513, p = 0.114) to 0.559 (95%CI: 0.475-0.642, p = 0.163). There was low criterion validity for the PBQ when using the Infant CARE-Index as a reference. The results are novel and make an important contribution to understanding the criterion validity of the PBQ. However, further research using different methods and populations is needed.