Challenging Social Taboos in Early Caregiving - Assessing Maternal Intrusive Thoughts and Dissociative Experiences Among Arab Mothers

The current investigation consists of two studies aimed at validating an Arabic version of the Maternal Disintegrative Responses Scale (A-MDRS), designed to evaluate maternal intrusive thoughts and dissociative experiences during early caregiving. The participants consisted of Arab mothers in Israel within 12 months post-childbirth. Study 1 (n = 243) assessed the factorial structure and reliability of the scale, and its correlation with maternal background variables. Study 2 (n = 195) further explored its factorial structure and reliability, as well as its construct validity, by examining associations with postpartum depression, maternal role satisfaction, and psychological flexibility. Confirmatory factor analyses in both studies supported a two-factor solution, demonstrating good reliability. In addition, Study 2 revealed a positive correlation between the A-MDRS factors and postnatal depression, and a negative association with maternal role satisfaction and psychological flexibility. The findings endorse the A-MDRS’s value in identifying maternal disintegrative responses during the postpartum period, affirming its factorial structure and reliability.