Objective:

This study aims to identify and analyze the observational instruments used to evaluate the parental responsiveness construct, with special attention to the components that are evaluated, the application characteristics, and the criteria for use. Method: A systematic review of the instruments published through the PsychINFO and Google Scholar databases was conducted. Two independent researchers assessed the eligibility of the instruments, extracted the data, and assessed their characteristics.

Results:

A total of 33 instruments were selected. The components evaluated are diverse and more than 50% also evaluate other constructs. Of these, 45% are medium focus and most have a positive focus. More than half are encoded through video, slightly less than half request to perform specific tasks, the time allocated to evaluation is highly variable, and all of them require specific training for their use.

Discussion:

There is a wide range of instruments to assess parental responsiveness. This review offers clues that facilitate the choice of the most appropriate instrument for each professional or research need.