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Revision of a Parental Stress Scale for use on a pediatric general care unit
Janice B Agazio1, Kathleen M Buckley
1The Catholic University of America, School of Nursing, Washington, DC, USA.
Insights
The Parental Stressor Scale: Pediatric General Care Unit (PSS:GCU) is a reliable and valid tool for measuring parental stress in pediatric general care settings. This study validated the PSS:GCU for use with parents of hospitalized children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Psychometrics
- Child Health Psychology
Background:
- Parental stress is a significant factor in pediatric healthcare.
- Existing tools may not fully capture stress in general pediatric units.
- Validating measurement tools is crucial for accurate assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the psychometric properties of a revised Parental Stressor Scale: Pediatric General Care Unit (PSS:GCU).
- To establish the reliability and validity of the PSS:GCU for use in pediatric general care settings.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive correlational study design.
- Psychometric evaluation including factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, item analysis, and concurrent validity.
- Sample of 403 parents of hospitalized children.
Main Results:
- Factor analysis supported the subscales of the PSS:GCU.
- High internal consistency for the total scale (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92) and subscales (0.70-0.92).
- Significant correlation found between PSS:GCU scores and general life stress (Family Inventory of Life Events).
Conclusions:
- The PSS:GCU demonstrates strong reliability and validity.
- The scale is suitable for measuring parental stress in general pediatric care units.
- Findings support the use of PSS:GCU for research and clinical practice.
Abstract:
The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to test and evaluate the psychometric properties of a revised Parental Stressor Scale: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PSS:PICU) for use on a pediatric general care unit (PSS:GCU). The sample consisted of 403 parents of hospitalized children in a large military Mid-Atlantic medical center. Reliability and validity were assessed by examining the modified scale using factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, item analysis, and concurrent validity. Factor analysis supported the subscales on the PSS:PICU. Internal consistency of the PSS:GCU produced a Cronbach's alpha of 0.92 for the total scale similar to the PSS:PICU scale, with the reliabilities for the subscales ranging from 0.70 to 0.92. Significant correlations were found between the total scores of the PSS:GCU and the Family Inventory of Life Events (FILE), a measure of general life stress. The results of psychometric testing suggest that the PSS:GCU is a reliable and valid scale to measure parental stress in general pediatric care units.
