A measure of parental stress in mothers with small children: dimensionality, stability and validity

Abstract

Self-reported parental stress was investigated in three samples of mothers with small children, using a Swedish version of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI). Dimensionality in experienced stress using items from six PSI Parent Domain subscales and eight new items was examined in factor analyses of data from a nationwide representative sample. Cross-validation proved the chosen factor pattern to be stable. Based on an oblique 5-factor solution new subscales were constructed. A second order factor analysis indicated influence from a higher order factor, seen as a general parental stress construct. High alpha coefficients revealed that homogeneous subscales had been formed. Test-retest correlations indicated good stability over a mean time period of 30 days. Influences from maternal background variables were found, but no relation to child age or gender. Global estimates of parental stress, reported child problems, mothers' scoring on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and two measures of social support all correlated significantly with overall parental stress, and with some subscales. The justification of the subscale approach to parental stress was discussed. It was concluded that the PSI in its present form could be used as a reliable and valid instrument for measuring experienced parental stress in mothers of young children.

Psychological Stress and Obesity

“…Examples given were death of a relative, serious disease in the family, serious accident in the family, divorce, exposure to violence, and unemployment. Second, parenting stress was assessed with the Swedish Parenting Stress Questionnaire (SPSQ) 11 , which has a good validity and good stability 11 . At age 2, the complete instrument was used.…”

“…10,11 However, parents who experience a lack of social support may have fewer resources to deal with psychological stress in the family. Excessive maternal worries about the child's health may impair the mother -infant relationship 12 and it may be associated with an insecuredismissive attachment style.…”

Psychological Stress May Induce Diabetes-Related Autoimmunity in Infancy

“…In the current study, a relatively strict criterion (Ͼ95th percentile) was used to define the cutoff for high stress in order to compensate for a slight floor effect in the sample (M ϭ 2.59 compared with a theoretical mean of 3.5). The instrument has good internal validity (Cronbach's ␣ for all subscales Ն0.65) and good test-retest reliability over 30 days (16). Experiences of serious life events.…”

Experience of a serious life event increases the risk for childhood type 1 diabetes: the ABIS population-based prospective cohort study

“…the parent's perception of stress associated with parenthood) was assessed when the children were aged 2-3, 5-6 and 8 years by three (incompetence, spouse relationship problems and role restriction) out of five subscales of the Swedish Parenthood Stress Questionnaire (SPSQ) [22]-a translation and reconstruction of the Parenting Stress Index [23]. Each item was assessed on a Likert scale of 1-6, where higher values indicate more stress.…”

“…Social isolation as a consequence of parenthood was assessed when the children were aged 2-3 years by the social isolation subscale (seven items) of SPSQ [22], with a higher value indicating more social isolation.…”