An analysis of the psychometric properties of the Pediatric Inventory for Parents — Short Form among caregivers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Pediatric caregiver stress specific to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with adverse outcomes in both parents and children, including reduced mental and physical well-being and family functioning. The Pediatric Inventory for Parents, short-form (PIP-SF), is a self-report measure of pediatric stress in caregivers of children with chronic health conditions. While the measure was developed in a manner that it can be used across childhood chronic illness, no studies to date have examined the psychometric properties of this instrument in caregivers of children with ASD. This study aims to fill a gap in the empirical literature by evaluating the reliability and validity of the PIP-SF within this previously excluded pediatric population. Participants were a national sample of 363 female caregivers of children diagnosed with ASD. They completed the PIP-SF and measures related to general stress, anxiety, gratitude, perceptions of child vulnerability, parental warmth, and ASD symptom severity. The PIP-F (α=.87) and PIP-D (α=.92) demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency. Concurrent validity was evidenced by statistically significant medium positive correlations between the PIP-F (r=.33, p<.001) and the PIP-D (r=.39, p<.001) with the PSS. The scales demonstrated statistically significant positive correlations with scales measuring caregiver anxiety (PIP-F: r=.30, p<.001 and r=.24, p<.001; PIP-D: r=.34, p<.001 and r=.28, p<.001), perceptions of child vulnerability (PIP-F: r=.52, p<.001; PIP-D: r=.53; p<.001), and ASD symptom severity (PIP-F: r=.50, p<.001; PIP-D: r=.51, p<.001). Supporting discriminant validity, the scales evidenced smaller correlations with a scale measuring gratitude, compared to a scale of parental warmth, and demonstrated statistically significant differences in the absolute values of the Pearson correlations (PIP-F: t(360)=-2.68, p<.01; PIP-D: t(360)=-2.45, p<.05). Scores on both scales did not significantly differ between caregivers of younger versus older children; caregivers of children with higher symptom severity reported statistically significantly higher PIP-SF scores than those with lower symptom severity (PIP-F: t(336)=7.46, p<.001, d=.84; PIP-D: t(331)=7.06, p<.001, d=.86). A unidimensional model for both scales met criteria for good fit (PIP-F: CFI=.97, SRMR=.08, RMSEA=.10; PIP-D: CFI=.99, SRMR=.07, RMSEA=.10). Results of the current study provide preliminary evidence supporting sufficient validity and reliability of the PIP-SF among female caregivers of children with ASD.

Name thesis:degree_name

Psy.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

2027

Author dc:creator

• Zeleznik, Tatum S., 2000-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Limbers, Christine A.

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Psychometric study.
• Pediatric caregiver stress.

Statement dc:rights

• Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/14503

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/14503