INSTRUMENTS TO MEASURE STIGMA IN CHILDREN WITH EPILEPSY AND THEIR PARENTS: INITIAL DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING
Abstract number :
1.376
Submission category :
Year :
2003
Submission ID :
1934
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/6/2003 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2003, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Joan K. Austin, David W. Dunn, Jessica S. MacLeod, Jianzhao Shen, Susan M. Perkins School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN; School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN; Division of Biostatistics, Indiana University, Indianapol
Perceptions of stigma have been associated with poor psychosocial outcomes in children and adolescents with epilepsy. Few measures exist to measure stigma in children with epilepsy and their parents. To address this gap we developed two brief self-report scales to measure stigma in children with epilepsy and their parents: Parent Stigma Scale and Child Perceptions Scale. This study reports on their psychometric properties.
Subjects were 170 children (ages 9 to 14 years) with epilepsy and their major caregiving parent. Data were collected as part of a larger study using computer assisted telephone interviews. Original items were revised based on recommendations from content experts. Internal consistency reliability was measured using coefficient alpha. One item from the parent scale and two items from the child scales were dropped because they reduced the reliability coefficient. Construct validity was explored using correlation.
Internal consistency reliability was found to be strong for the 5-item parent scale ([alpha] = .79) and for the 8-item child scale ([alpha] = .81). Empirical support was found for hypothesized relationships in the predicted direction for both scales. Parent stigma scores were significantly correlated with seizure severity (r = .29, p = .0002), seizure management confidence (r = -.23, p = .002), parent positive mood (r = -.38, p [lt] .0001), parent worry (r = .37, p [lt] .0001), and impact on family leisure (r = -.46, p [lt] .0001). Child stigma scores were correlated with seizure severity (r = .24, p = .002), seizure management confidence (r = -.27, p = .0004) child attitude toward illness (r = -.60, p [lt] .0001), child worry (r = .52, p [lt] .0001), child self-concept (r = -.38, p [lt] .0001), and child depression symptoms (r = .48, p [lt] .0001).
Both scales were found to have strong psychometric properties. The scales also are short and items are easy to understand. These scales have potential for use in research or in the clinical setting to measure stigma.
[Supported by: Funded by NS 22416 and NR 04536.]