Adaptation of the maternal gatekeeping scale into Turkish for infancy (0-24 months): Mother and father form

This study was conducted to adapt the Maternal Gatekeeping Scale into Turkish for infancy and to conduct validity and reliability studies with parents. Descriptive survey model, which is one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study. Participants were reached by using criterion sampling method, a purposeful sampling method. The sample of the study consisted of 305 mothers and 209 fathers who have child in infancy (0-24 months), are married, living together and volunteered to participate in the study. The data in the study were collected with the "Demographic Information Form" and "Maternal Gatekeeping Scale" created by the researcher. SPSS 27 (Statistical Package fort he Social Sciences) and LISREL 8.80 programs were used to analyze the data collected in the study. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed for the construct validity of the Maternal Gatekeeping Scale - Mother Form and Maternal Gatekeeping Scale - Father Form. Frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean and standard deviation were used to determine the distribution of the sample. Cronbach's Alpha, the internal consistency coefficient, was calculated to determine the reliability of the scales used in the study. In order to calculate item discriminations, 27% lower-upper groups were formed and independent sample t-test was applied to these groups. Item-total correlation values were calculated to determine the relationship between each item in the scale and other items. The findings of the study indicate that the Mother and Father Forms of the Maternal Gatekeeping Scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool for measuring maternal gatekeeping in parents with infants in Türkiye. It is thought that the scale adapted in the current study will be an important step for further studies on the rather new topic of maternal gatekeeping in infancy, and will form the basis for future studies to determine the determinants and consequences of maternal gatekeeping.