Is parental psychological flexibility a (uni) dimensional construct? A bifactor analysis of the Portuguese version of the parental acceptance questionnaire (6-PAQ)

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the (uni) dimensionality of the Parental Acceptance Questionnaire (6-PAQ) in a sample of Portuguese parents of children within the community using a bifactor model that can test the separate contribution of the dimensions and of the general score. 390 parents of children (1–11 years) recruited online and in-person completed the assessment protocol, including the 6 PAQ and other measures. The bifactor model showed the best fit to data (χ2(118) = 382.95, p < .001, CFI = .95). The degree of unidimensionality (.59) and the OmegaH indexes (.81 for the general factor and < .47 for the dimensions) supported the strength of the general factor of parental psychological flexibility, which accounted for 87% of the reliable variance in the total score. Reliability indices showed high reliability for the general factor (.93). Although the 6-PAQ contains items assessing the Hexaflex six core-processes, the results were globally supportive of the unidimensionality of the Portuguese version of the 6-PAQ, and thus of computing its total score.