Retrospective Measure of Behavioural Inhibition – RMBI
A retrospective self-report scale designed to measure childhood behavioral inhibition in adults.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Retrospective Measure of Behavioural Inhibition – RMBI was developed by Gladstone, G., & Parker, G. (2005). It is designed to measure Childhood Behavioral Inhibition. The scale is intended for use with Adults (retrospective self-report).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 18 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Fearful Inhibition, Non-Approach, Low Sociability.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Fearful Inhibition | 1,6,8,10,16,17,18 | 7 |
| Non-Approach | 2,3,9,12,14 | 5 |
| Low Sociability | 4,5,7,11,13,15 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = No/hardly ever, 1 = Some of the time, 2 = Yes/most of the time, DK = Do not remember at all.
The scale includes 6 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 36. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Behavioral Inhibition: 0 – 11
- Moderate Behavioral Inhibition: 12 – 23
- High Behavioral Inhibition: 24 – 36
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.