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Factor structure of the parent perception of uncertainty scale in parents of children with cancer
Author(s) -
Molzon Elizabeth S.,
Bran Erin E.,
Fedele David A.,
Grant DeMond M.,
Suorsa Kristina I.,
Mullins Larry L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.3574
Subject(s) - state (computer science) , psychology , library science , sociology , gerontology , medicine , mathematics , computer science , algorithm
The diagnosis of pediatric cancer still places families atrisk for psychosocial difficulties despite improving cure rates [1]. Parents of children diagnosed with cancer often experience considerable uncertainty. Illness uncertainty is defined as a cognitive stressor, or perceptual state of doubt, or loss of control that changes over time [e.g., 2], which arises in situations where illness-related outcomes are unpredictable, or there is insufficient information regarding severity and prognosis (see Wright et al., 2009 or Stewart et al., 2000 for reviews of the construct). Illness uncertainty is associated with psychological distress in parents of children with a chronic illness and is a salient predictor of adjustment outcomes (e.g., depression) across chronic illnesses [3,4] and has been the target of recent intervention work [5]. Illness uncertainty in parents is typically measured with the Parental Perception of Uncertainty Scale (PPUS) [6]. The original factor analysis conducted by Mishel [7] was validated within a heterogeneous sample of hospitalized children using principal axis factor analysis with varimax rotation. A four-factor solution (i.e., ambiguity, lack of clarity, lack of information, and unpredictability) was chosen on the basis of theoretical interpretability [7]. Considerable research supports illness uncertainty and its linkage to parental adjustment [e.g., 6,3]; however, no studies to our knowledge have examined the psychometric properties of the PPUS since its original development. Recent advancements in oncology treatment, including improvements in diagnostic ability and treatment approaches, may have impacted parental perceptions of their child’s illness, thereby potentially changing the experience of uncertainty. Further, documenting the factor structure of illness uncertainty (e.g., lack of information) can inform specific target areas for future psychosocial interventions. Thus, a new investigation of the utility of the PPUS among parents of children diagnosed with cancer is warranted. The current study examined the factor structure of the PPUS in parents of children diagnosed with cancer and also examined convergent validity of the PPUS.