Psychometric Evaluation of the New Translated and Culturally Adapted Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire in German-Speaking Women

This study aimed to evaluate the construct validity and reliability of the newly adapted German version of the Parental Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) in a group of mothers drawn from the general population, with children aged 12–24 weeks. This assessment followed a thorough linguistic validation, which was conducted through a systematic, multi-step translation process.

363 women completed the PBQ online 12–24 weeks after delivery. Cronbach’s alpha and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were used to assess internal consistency reliability and construct validity.

The original 4-factor model could not be confirmed. The new PBQ provides a single factor solution. Ten items were removed from the original 25-item PBQ to produce the abbreviated German PBQ-15, which showed strong internal consistency. The Cronbach’s alpha for this version was 0.86.

While further research is needed to establish diagnostic thresholds and strengthen the construct validity of the shortened version, the German-language 15-item version of the PBQ holds promise as an accessible tool for recognizing bonding issues in a general population of German-speaking women 3–6 months postpartum.