An Examination of the Factor Structure of Parenting Capacity Measures in Chronic Illness Populations

Abstract

To examine and confirm the factor structure of three widely used measures of parenting capacity: the Child Vulnerability Scale, Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, and Parental Protection Scale. Caregivers (N = 457) of children with cancer, asthma, diabetes, sickle cell disease, or cystic fibrosis completed each scale. Separate exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on each measure. The Child Vulnerability Scale and Parenting Stress Index-Short Form maintained their proposed factor structure; however, several items on the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form were not retained. Finally, multiple items were not retained on the Parental Protection Scale resulting in a proposed unidimensional structure. Continued use of the Child Vulnerability Scale and a modified Parenting Stress Index-Short Form appears appropriate in a pediatric chronic illness population. However, further factor analytic studies are needed to examine the Parental Protection Scale. Future clinical and research implications are discussed.