The Multidimensional Neglectful Behavior Scale, Form A: Adolescent and Adult-recall Version

Standardized and easily administered measures are needed to facilitate research on child neglect. The Multidimensional Neglectful behavior Scale (MNBS) is intended to measure neglect of four basic developmental needs: (1) neglect of physical needs such as food, clothing, shelter, medical care; (2) emotional needs such as affection, companionship, support; (3) supervisory needs such as setting limits, attending to misbehavior, knowing child's whereabouts and friends; and (4) cognitive needs such as reading to the child, and explaining things. The version of the MNBS described in this paper can be used in interview or questionnaire format with adolescents to describe their current situation, or for adults to describe neglectful behavior when they were growing up. Preliminary psychometric data based on a college student sample is presented for the full 20-item scale (including the four subscales) and for an eight and a four item short form. The preliminary psychometric data indicate that the MNBS has a high level of internal consistency reliability. There is also evidence indicating construct validity. Limitations of the MNBS are discussed. Modifications of the MNBS to enable it to be used with a variety of populations are described. ************* This is a revision of the first of a series of papers on the Multidimensional Neglectful behavior Scale (MNBS). Other papers describe parent-report and child-report version of the MNBS, and cross-cultural reliability and validity (Straus and Savage ??). The child-report versions (for children 6-9 and 10-13) are pictorial and do not require reading ability. The parent-report MNBS can be administered as an interview or by as a self-administered questionnaire. Copies of the child report and parent report instruments can be obtained from Glenda Kantor ([email protected]). This adult-recall/adolescence-report versions are appended to this paper. This paper is a much expanded version of a paper first made available in 1995, and also differs from that version of the paper in the following way: (1) A change in the time-period for recall of neglectful behavior. (2) Use of frequency of occurrence response categories in order to improve measurement of the chronicity of neglectful behavior. Although we believe these changes will improve the MNBS, empirical research to determine this has not yet been done. 1. Revision of a paper presented at the Fourth International Conference On Family Violence Research, Durham, NH, July 23, 1995. We are grateful to Nancy Asdigian for statistical analysis and editing, and to her and the members of the Family Research Laboratory Seminar for valuable comments and suggestions. This paper is a publication of the Family Research Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824. The research described in this paper is part of a program to develop instruments for research on family violence. See the bibliography of publications on measurement in our web site www.unh.edu/frl. The research was funded by National Institute of Mental Health grants T32MH15161 and RO1HD039144 and the University of New Hampshire.