Validation of the Portuguese version of the Mental Representation of Caregiving Scale: A study with a sample of parents of one-month-old babies

The representational models of caregiving drive the caregiving behavioral system, particularly in the case of parent-child interactions. This study aims to present the validation results of the Portuguese version of the Mental Representation of Caregiving Scale (ERMPC). A sample of 500 participants (267 women), parents of one-month-old healthy babies, filled out a form with sociodemographic and clinical data, the ERMPC, the Adult Attachment Scale, the Confidence Parental Questionnaire and visual analogue scales assessing the parenthood experience. The Portuguese version of the ERMPC comprises the following dimensions: 1) Ability and availability to provide effective care; 2) Ability to recognize the others' needs; 3) Self-focused motivations to provide care; and 4) Appraisal of others as worthy of help. The ERMPC presents good reliability and validity indices. These results indicate the suitability of using this scale in the Portuguese population, both in clinical and research contexts.