Chronic Childhood Stress: Psychometric Properties of the Chronic Stress Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (CSQ-CA) in Three Independent Samples

Esther I De Bruin,Anne-Marie Meijer,Dominik S Sieh,Bonne J H Zijlstra

doi:10.1007/s12187-017-9478-3

Esther I De Bruin, Anne-Marie Meijer + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-017-9478-3

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Abstract

Stress in children and adolescents is common and related to many developmental problems. However, most studies have made no distinction between temporary or chronic stress due to the lack of a suitable questionnaire. This study tested the factor structure, reliability and validity of the 17-item self-report Chronic Stress Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (CSQ-CA) in three samples, that is, 717 adolescents from the general population, 161 adolescents of parents with a severe chronic medical condition (CMC) like multiple sclerosis, and 113 adolescents with healthy parents. Results showed that a one-factor solution provided a reasonable fit overall. Reliability was good (α = .80 to .88). Convergent validity was supported by positive relations between total stress scores and internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors, experience of daily hassles, and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and negative relations with quality of life, happiness, mindfulness, self-esteem, and coping skills. Adolescents from all samples, who themselves had a light CMC like asthma, showed higher chronic stress levels than those without a CMC. In line, adolescents of parents with a severe CMC reported more chronic stress than those of healthy parents, and adolescents with a chronic illness themselves and a parent with a chronic illness, showed the highest scores across the two family types. Overall, this study presents good psychometric properties of the first available measure of chronic stress in children and adolescents.

Highlights

Stress is an important determinant for child and adolescent quality of life, psychological functioning and health problems on the long term (Hocking and Lochman 2005; Pedersen and Revenson 2005; Sieh et al 2014)
This study investigates the psychometric properties of the Chronic Stress Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (CSQ-CA)
We examined the factor structure, reliability, convergent, and divergent validity of the CSQ-CA in three different adolescent samples

Summary

Introduction

Stress is an important determinant for child and adolescent quality of life, psychological functioning and health problems on the long term (Hocking and Lochman 2005; Pedersen and Revenson 2005; Sieh et al 2014). With respect to the concept of stress, it is important to make distinctions about the properties of the stressor, coping with the stressor and the feelings of being stressed, and temporary or chronic stress These different aspects of stress are reflected in questionnaires that are developed to measure child and adolescent stress. Feelings of chronic stress are indications of the impact of stressors and insufficient coping responses or resources on the child due to stressful circumstances during an extended period These feelings may develop gradually, are unacknowledged or accepted as ‘normal’ by the child (Dufour et al 2006; Forehand et al 1998; Sieh et al 2010a; Verhaeghe et al 2005)

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Conclusion