A Chinese version of the Meaning in Caregiving Scale: an assessment of its reliability and validity

To evaluate the reliability and construct validity of the Meaning in Caregiving Scale (MICS) by confirmatory factor analysis and to explore whether the MICS meets the goodness-of-fit criteria for the 3-factor model.

Four hundred and eighty subjects in Taiwan were recruited. The hypothesized confirmatory factor analysis model specifies the items to measure the reordering priority, relationship fidelity, and transcendent belief as indicators of latent factors.

The data show that the hypothesized 3-factor model does not fit the data well and indicate that the 3 factors might share a high-order common factor. Cross-cultural issues may account for this shortcoming.

This scale offers better understanding around caregivers for psychiatric patients and the issues they face.