Validation of the Spanish version of the CAPES

Abstract

In the present study, we explored the factor structure as well as validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale (CAPES) suitable for assessing child behavioural and emotional difficulties (Intensity Scale) and parental self-efficacy (Self-Efficacy Scale) among Spanish-speaking parents from the US, Latin America and Spain. This instrument was designed to be brief and easy to read in order to reach parents with low-literacy levels and from under-resourced backgrounds. Psychometrics for the English version of the CAPES indicates good internal consistency, as well as satisfactory construct and predictive validity of the measure (Morawska et al., 2014). A sample of 174 parents of children (91 boys and 78 girls) from Panama participated in this study. They completed the instrument alongside the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for measuring child psychological problems and the Parenting Task Checklist (PTC) for measuring parental self-efficacy. In addition, a group of 49 parents completed the CAPES at time 1 (T1) and 2 weeks after (T2). Psychometric evaluation of the Spanish version of the CAPES revealed that it has adequate internal consistency and test–retest reliability, as well as satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. In conclusion, this instrument shows promise as a brief outcome measure to be used in clinical settings and to assess the effects of parenting interventions among Spanish-speaking parents. More research into psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the CAPES is needed, before it can be widely applied in practice.