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Further exploration of the Y oung C arers P erceived S tress S cale: Identifying a benefit‐finding dimension
Author(s) -
Cassidy Tony,
Giles Melanie
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
british journal of health psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 2044-8287
pISSN - 1359-107X
DOI - 10.1111/bjhp.12017
Subject(s) - psychology , coping (psychology) , distress , psychological resilience , clinical psychology , social psychology , developmental psychology
Objectives A substantial number of children are involved in informal caregiving and make a significant contribution to health care delivery. While this places high levels of demand on their coping resources, there is some evidence that these children find benefit in their caring role. The Y oung C arers P erceived S tress S cale ( YCPSS ) ( E arly et al ., 2006, J . C hild F am . S tud ., 15 , 169) identified a positive dimension of caring, which appears to have potential in terms of measuring benefit finding in this group. The current study aimed to further explore YCPSS to clarify this dimension. Design A survey design using questionnaire data collection was used with a sample of 329 children between the ages of 12 and 16. Methods A pool of 52 items based on the YCPSS was administered along with measures of support, coping, and psychological distress to 329 young carers attending organized support groups. Results Factor analysis with maximum likelihood extraction identified six factors including one 8‐item dimension labelled benefit finding , which had good internal reliability and produced a pattern of correlations with support, coping, and psychological distress indicating initial evidence of validity. Conclusions The study produced initial evidence for reliability and validity of an 8‐item benefit‐finding measure, as well as a clearer set of dimensions for the original YCPSS . The resulting measures should prove useful in further explorations of benefit finding and resilience in young carers. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? There is some emerging evidence that child caregivers experience some positive effects or benefits from their caring in spite of the demands of the role. We could find only one scale (of 18 items) reported by Pakenham, Chiu, Bursnall, and Cannon (2007) in one study and not subsequently reported in any other research. The current study provides a short (8‐item) scale. To more fully understand the conditions in which benefit finding occurs to support the health and well‐being of this group, a measure is needed. What does this study add? This study provides a reliable and valid measure and some preliminary evidence for benefit finding in young carers.