Validating a Caregiving Rewarding Feelings scale among family caregivers of those diagnosed with schizophrenia in China.

INTRODUCTION

A culturally adaptive and easy-to-administer 12-item Caregiving Rewarding Feelings (CRF) scale has been developed in China yet never published in English and validated in another population.

AIM

The current study aimed to validate the CRF among a community sample of Chinese caregivers of those diagnosed with schizophrenia.

METHOD

A sample of 449 family caregivers was recruited for scale validation that included factorial validity, construct validity, measurement invariance, item analysis, internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, known-group validity, convergent validity and divergent validity.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis supported the a priori three-factor structure. Construct validity was supported by high standard regression weight (SRW) and average variance extracted (AVE), measurement invariance across age and gender groups. The CRF showed good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Known-group validity was confirmed by the higher CRF scores among caregivers with certain socio-demographics. The convergent validity of the CRF was supported by its positive correlations with social support, active coping and family functioning. The divergent validity of the CRF was supported by its negative associations with stigma, stress and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed the reliability and validity of the CRF specifically designed for caregivers in Chinese culture.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The CRF may be further applied and validated in other populations and other countries.