Factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the Caregiver strain questionnaire in Latinx families

Bibliographic Data

ID21319971
AuthorsMelanie M Domenech Rodríguez (0000-0002-6610-6890, Utah State University Logan Utah USA, corresponding author), Alejandro L Vázquez (0000-0002-6790-7534, University of Tennessee Knoxville Tennessee USA), Thania Galvan (0000-0001-5355-3213, University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA), Omar G Gudiño (0000-0001-8280-1562, University of Kansas Lawrence Kansas USA)
Year2024
Volume63
Issue2
Pages1084-1098
Publication date2024-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFamily Process (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0014-7370 • E-ISSN: 1545-5300
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/famp.12986
PMID38459812
OpenAlexW4392623188
LanguageEN
References cited32

Caregiver strain or stress directly related to caring for a youth with emotional and/or behavioral problems may be an important and understudied cultural factor associated with mental health disparities among Latinx families. Caregiver strain is a highly relevant construct for research questions focused on the identification of youth's mental health needs, family‐level impacts of youth mental health problems, and utilization of youth mental health services. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of research on measures of caregiver strain and the psychometric properties of existing measures in Latinx samples. This study examined the structural and construct validity of the English version of the Caregiver Strain Questionnaire (CGSQ) with a sample of United States‐based Latinx caregivers of youths ages 6–18 ( N = 598). Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the original three‐factor model of caregiver strain was evidenced in this sample. Internal consistency analyses and a poor factor loading led to the elimination of one item. The factor structure held after item removal. Significant associations between each dimension of caregiver strain with youth internalizing/externalizing symptom severity and utilization of youth mental health services provided evidence of construct validity (i.e., psychological counseling, telepsychology, parenting classes). Results provide important evidence of the psychometric properties of the English CGSQ in a Latinx sample and support its use in future research aimed at unpacking mental health disparities among Latinx youth and families. Researchers should translate and validate the CGSQ in Spanish to increase the utility of this measure for research with Latinx families

Confirmatory factor analysis · Construct (python library) · Construct validity · Developmental psychology · Mental health · Psychiatry · Psychometrics · Sample (material) · Structural equation modeling · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Family Caregiving in Mental Illness · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology

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