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Measuring Shaken Baby Syndrome awareness: preliminary reliability of a caregiver attitudes and beliefs survey

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Abstract

Recent estimates of Shaken Baby Syndrome awareness suggest that approximately half of all American adults have not heard of the often devastating risks of shaking an infant. Using a sample of 288 undergraduate students, we developed a measure of attitudes around infant care practices. A total of 264 community participants completed a revised survey. Between-group comparisons, exploratory factor analyses, and internal consistency tests were employed to determine the directionality and reliability of any scale structure present in the data. A five factor structure fits the data reliably, and each of these factors seems to represent a unique dimension. Implications for using this measure clinically and preventatively are discussed.

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Correspondence to Preston A. Britner.

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Russell, B.S., Britner, P.A. Measuring Shaken Baby Syndrome awareness: preliminary reliability of a caregiver attitudes and beliefs survey. J Child Fam Stud 15, 760–772 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-006-9050-0

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