Should we use the Parental Stress Index—Short Form in parents of children with ASD? A French validation study. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Derguy, C.; Loyal, D.; Devouche, E.; Cappe, E.
• Is Part Of: Research in developmental disabilities. Volume 104(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Parenting -- Autism -- Factor analysis -- Psychometric properties -- Scale validation; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmental Disabilities -- Periodicals; Disabled -- Periodicals; Mental Retardation -- rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Personnes atteintes de troubles du développement -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Enfants atteints de troubles du développement -- Éducation -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Développement, Troubles du -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 616.858800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103716
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-4222

Abstract

Highlights: Parents of children with ASD report high level of parental stress. The PSI (or its short form) is the most used tool for assessing parental stress. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the PSI-SF in ASD in France. EFA gives a 3-factor model (21 items) with good structure and convergent validity. Removed items were related to the specificities of ASD and the French context. Abstract: Background: Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit higher levels of parental stress than parents of typically developing children. The most frequently used tools to assess parental stress is the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) or its Short Form (PSI-SF). Aims: This study was designed to test the validity of the PSI-SF in French parents of children with ASD (N = 370). Methods and procedures: First, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the initial 3-factor structure (36 items) which indicate a poor model fit. Then, an exploratory factor analysis was performed and convergent validity was assessed. Outcomes and results: A 3-factor structure (21 items) explaining 44 % of the variance was observed. Dimensions were moderately correlated and exhibited good internal consistency. Convergent validity was checked through the PSI-SF association with anxiety and depression (HADS), quality of life (WHOQOL-Brief) and appraisal of being a parent of a child with ASD (ALES). Conclusions and implications: Future research should use the full version of the PSI-SF and examine its factor structure. More studies on the factor structure of the PSI-SF are needed to find out if it is a suitable tool for measuring stress in parents of children with ASD in France.