THE GIBSON CAREGIVER ROLE ANXIETY SCALE: INSTRUMENT DEVELOPMENT (CAREGIVER).
Contributors: Texas Woman's University.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 142
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Mental Health.; Psychology, Psychometrics.
Description: The purpose of the research study was to examine the psychometric properties of a newly developed instrument, the Gibson Caregiver Role Anxiety Scale (GCRAS), and to determine its internal consistency reliability and construct validity. The research problem was to measure selected variables in nursing and caregiver behavior that may reduce caregiver role anxiety after a technologically dependent child is discharged from the hospital.

The study's conceptual framework was based on psychometric theory and role theory. Works on anxiety, role supplementation and role insufficiency helped construct the conceptual model for caregiver role anxiety. The independent variables selected for the model were role modeling by the nurse, and role rehearsal and role practice by the parent, with role anxiety as the dependent variable.

The study used a methodological design and basic research orientation. A pilot study provided initial estimates of internal consistency reliability and content validity.

The study sample was 129 adults who were primary caregivers for technologically dependent children aged from birth to seven years. The GCRAS questionnaire was filled out by volunteer subjects in hospitals, clinics, support groups, and homes.

For data analysis, internal consistency reliability was estimated using both factor analysis and a Cronbach's alpha correlation coefficient. Factorial validity was estimated using factor analysis.

Findings supported the reliability and validity of the instrument. The internal consistency reliability for the instrument as a whole was.8949, and for the four subscales the alpha coefficients ranged from.7004 to.8735. The factor analysis procedures produced four distinct factors with loadings of.4200 or greater that matched the variables in the model, thus supporting the validity of the conceptual model.

The newly developed instrument shows promise as a tool for measuring variables that may reduce caregiver role anxiety after a technologically dependent child is discharged from the hospital. Further testing is needed with additional samples.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-05, Section: B, page: 2245.

Thesis (PH.D.)--TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY, 1992.

School code: 0925.