The Maternal Gatekeeping Scale: Constructing a Measure

ObjectiveTo develop and test a measure that comprehensively captures the concept of maternal gatekeeping.BackgroundMaternal gatekeeping encompasses the ways in which mothers restrict or support father involvement with children. We proposed a three‐dimensional (Encouragement, Discouragement, and Control) model of gatekeeping to describe the nuances of the maternal gatekeeping, but no measures have yet been developed that provide scholars with a way to empirically test the theoretical model.MethodData were collected from 256 mothers and 204 fathers of children between 3 and 7 years of age. A panel of national experts and parents established face validity, and a 3‐factor solution resulted in separate models for mothers and fathers.ResultsCorrelations between the subscales and 2 established measures of gatekeeping and coparenting were examined to establish construct validity; the new measures correlated in expected ways.ConclusionThe use of different items for mothers and fathers will allow scholars to account for differences depending on whether the reporter is engaged in gatekeeping or the recipient of gatekeeping behavior.ImplicationsThe new measure may be a useful tool for researchers attempting to measure maternal gatekeeping as a multidimensional construct.