A systematic review of observational and report-based measures of caregiver sensitivity: A Latin American perspective.
- 1Department of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru.
Abstract
Sensitivity is a cornerstone of early childhood mental health; however, its measurement relies heavily on tools developed in English-speaking, high-resource contexts. This systematic review identified observational and report-based instruments used to assess sensitivity in caregivers of children aged 0-6 years. It evaluated the methodological robustness and usability of these instruments within Latin American contexts. Following a systematic search in Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Redalyc, 732 eligible studies were identified. Based on a frequency-of-use threshold, 16 instruments (14 observational and 2 report-based) represented across 616 papers were selected for in-depth evaluation. Measures were coded for theoretical alignment with Ainsworth's sensitivity definition, psychometric evidence, and usability-specifically training accessibility, administration complexity, and evidence of use with diverse Latin American populations (e.g., caregivers in rural settings or with lower educational levels). Results revealed that only a minority of measures adhered explicitly to Ainsworth's original definition. Most instruments prioritized warmth and positive affect, potentially leading to cross-cultural underdetection in contexts where responsiveness is expressed through proximity and routine-based care. While observational tools predominated, report-based measures showed limited validation and minimal regional use. These findings highlight the urgent need for culturally grounded validation and the development of accessible training programs for the region.
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BibTeX
@article{retiz2026systematic,
title = {{A systematic review of observational and report-based measures of caregiver sensitivity: A Latin American perspective.}},
author = {Olenka Retiz and Katherine Fourment and Lucía Marquez and Magaly Noblega},
journal = {Infant mental health journal},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/imhj.70120},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42925552},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A systematic review of observational and report-based measures of caregiver sensitivity: A Latin American perspective.
AU - Olenka Retiz
AU - Katherine Fourment
AU - Lucía Marquez
AU - Magaly Noblega
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Infant mental health journal
DO - 10.1002/imhj.70120
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42925552
AB - Sensitivity is a cornerstone of early childhood mental health; however, its measurement relies heavily on tools developed in English-speaking, high-resource contexts. This systematic review identified observational and report-based instruments used to assess sensitivity in caregivers of children aged 0-6 years. It evaluated the methodological robustness and usability of these instruments within Latin American contexts. Following a systematic search in Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Redalyc, 732 eligible studies were identified. Based on a frequency-of-use threshold, 16 instruments (14 observational and 2 report-based) represented across 616 papers were selected for in-depth evaluation. Measures were coded for theoretical alignment with Ainsworth's sensitivity definition, psychometric evidence, and usability-specifically training accessibility, administration complexity, and evidence of use with diverse Latin American populations (e.g., caregivers in rural settings or with lower educational levels). Results revealed that only a minority of measures adhered explicitly to Ainsworth's original definition. Most instruments prioritized warmth and positive affect, potentially leading to cross-cultural underdetection in contexts where responsiveness is expressed through proximity and routine-based care. While observational tools predominated, report-based measures showed limited validation and minimal regional use. These findings highlight the urgent need for culturally grounded validation and the development of accessible training programs for the region.
SN - 0163-9641
SN - 1097-0355
ER -