Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation into French of the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale

Understanding the emotional bond between a mother and her newborn is important because it can impact the child’s development and well-being. Healthcare professionals use different questionnaires to measure this bond, but one commonly used tool, the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS), was not yet available in French. Our study aimed to create a French version of the MIBS (MIBS-Fr) so it can be used by French-speaking mothers. To do this, we followed an internationally recognized process for translation and cultural adaptation. This included translating the questionnaire, reviewing it with experts, and testing it with 11 mothers in a maternity unit to ensure clarity and accuracy. The final French version was well understood, with an average comprehension score of 9.7 out of 10. Some words were adjusted to better reflect emotions in French while keeping the meaning of the original scale. This new version of the MIBS allows French-speaking mothers to accurately express their feelings about their bond with their baby. It will help healthcare professionals assess and support mother-infant relationships in French-speaking communities.