Longitudinal Measurement Invariance Across Fathers' and Mothers' Reports of Maternal Gatekeeping Behavior

This study tested longitudinal measurement invariance across fathers' and mothers' reports of maternal gatekeeping behavior and examined associations between mothers' reported and observed gatekeeping behavior. Data were drawn from a Midwestern U. S. study of 182 dual-earner couples consisting of coresident fathers and mothers who had recently become parents. Fathers and mothers reported on mothers' gate opening and gate closing behavior at 3, 6, and 9 months postpartum. Observational ratings of the maternal gate opening and gate closing behavior were obtained at 9 months postpartum from 20-min mother-father-infant interactions. Using six items each for gate opening and gate closing behaviors supported by confirmatory factor analyses ( CFA), we established measurement invariance across time and parent gender with full or partial support. However, observed maternal gatekeeping behavior did not correlate strongly with reported gatekeeping behaviors. Results support the use of the 12 items tested for future assessment of mothers' gate opening and gate closing behavior.