Competency Scale for Developmentally Supportive Parenting of High-Risk Infants (CS-DSPHI): Development and Psychometric Testing.

BACKGROUND

Developmentally supportive parenting (DSP) is the parental competency that optimizes developmental outcomes in high-risk infants, spanning developmental knowledge, emotional responsiveness, cognitive stimulation, and the psychological capacity to sustain these behaviors. Existing measures assess caregiving confidence or require trained observers; none captures DSP competency by self-report.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a self-report scale measuring DSP competency among parents of high-risk infants and to evaluate its psychometric properties.

METHODS

A total of 440 parents of high-risk infants participated in the study between February 2 and 28, 2024. The study was conducted in 2 phases. In Phase 1, the instrument was developed through a review of the relevant literature and interviews with parents; thereafter, the preliminary items were evaluated for content validity. Phase 2 included psychometric testing, item analysis, and construct validity analysis. Concurrent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliabilities were also examined.

RESULTS

The final scale was confirmed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, yielding a 4-factor scale with 28 items. The 4 factors were parental knowledge of child health and development; parental emotional support; cognitive development promotion and behavioral guidance; and parental mindfulness and self-care. Concurrent validity was demonstrated, and instrument reliability was deemed acceptable.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: The CS-DSPHI is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing DSP competency in parents of high-risk infants. Healthcare providers can use these scores to identify specific areas requiring educational support and guidance. Further validation across diverse parent populations and infant risk levels is warranted.