Psychometric evaluation of the German version of a social support scale of FAFHES (Family Functioning, Family Health and Social Support)

Abstract

Background Family members often need to be supported in informal care of the elderly and desire to be involved into care planning and decision‐making. Valid and reliable instruments are needed to measure how family members perceive the care and support they receive from nurses for older family members living at home. Aim The purpose of this study was to translate the 20‐item social support scale of the Family Functioning, Family Health and Social Support (FAFHES) questionnaire from English to German and test the validity and reliability of the scale among Swiss‐German‐speaking family caregivers of home‐dwelling elderly people who receive home healthcare services. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted to test the empirical and psychometric properties of the translated and culturally adapted version of the social support questionnaire. A factor analysis with the principal component analysis PCA was used to test construct validity. The internal consistency of items was measured with the Cronbach`s alpha coefficient. Results After a rigorous translation process the original 20‐item questionnaire was adapted into a 19‐item version and tested with family caregivers (n = 207) of home‐dwelling elderly. Psychometric testing of the German version of the social support questionnaire revealed that the three factors – affirmation, affect and concrete aid – were congruent with the original questionnaire. The accounted variance was 79.5% and the internal consistency determined by the Cronbach's alpha was 0.973. Conclusion The German version of the social support scale of the FAFHES questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument to assess family perceived support on three dimensions – affirmation, affect and concrete aid – received from nursing professionals. The questionnaire should be tested further in other German‐speaking populations.

Exploring Factors Associated With Family Caregivers’ Preparedness to Care for an Older Family Member Together With Home Care Nurses: An Analysis in a Swiss Urban Area

“…It has been translated into different languages. 9,[51][52][53][54][55][56] The internal consistency coefficients showed Cronbach's alphas > .90. 9,56 Dependent variable preparedness.…”

“…9,[51][52][53][54][55][56] The internal consistency coefficients showed Cronbach's alphas > .90. 9,56 Dependent variable preparedness. Preparedness was assessed with the Preparedness-Scale by Schumacher et al 30 The scale consists of 8 items to evaluate how prepared family members feel for caregiving tasks, such as providing physical and emotional care or coordinating the organization of services.…”

The association between parents phubbing and prosocial behavior among Chinese preschool children: a moderated mediation model

“…The Early Years Foundation Stage in the United Kingdom also states the objectives and guiding principles for promoting children’s social development ( Forrester et al, 2022 ). Family Support Services in Germany aims to promote the social–emotional development of children by providing various services such as family education programs and parent–child activities ( Ris et al, 2020 ). In China, preschool children’s prosocial behavior has received extensive attention from the government and society.…”