Assessing Childhood Attachment:

Psychometric Adaptation of the “Attachment in Friendship Relationships” Scale with Visual Aids

Resumo

Psychometric tools for assessing attachment are pivotal in psychology, playing a vital role in shaping social relationships, decision-making processes, and individual self-concept. Despite their importance, scales specifically designed to evaluate children's attachment in the Brazilian context still need to be explored, particularly those incorporating features that enhance item comprehension. This study sought to adapt the "Apego nas Relações de Amizade" (ARA) – in English "Attachment in Friendship Relationships" (AFR) by integrating illustrative drawings to enhance item comprehension. The adapted scale, the "Attachment in Friendship Relationships for Children" (AFR-C/ARA-C), alongside the Empathy Scale for Adolescent Children, was administered to 244 state school children aged 7 to 12. Results revealed a two-dimensional structure in the AFR-C/ARA-C, capturing the dimensions of Anxiety and Avoidance. The observed psychometric properties were consistent with the original instruments, demonstrating that incorporating illustrations significantly improved item comprehension, particularly for children with challenges in semantic interpretation. The adapted scale holds promise for future research, providing an effective tool for assessing friendship-based attachment in children and advancing the understanding and application of attachment theory in diverse educational contexts.