Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs > v.44(5) > 1003020

TOOLS
Lee, Hong, and Ju: Construct Validity of the Life Transition Scale for Parents of Children with Autism
Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2014; 44(5): 563-572.

Published online: 31 October 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2014.44.5.563

Construct Validity of the Life Transition Scale for Parents of Children with Autism

Ae Ran Lee1, Sun Woo Hong2, Se Jin Ju3

1Department of Nursing, Wonkwang Health Science University, Iksan, Korea.

2Department of Emergency Medical Technology, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Korea.

3Department of Nursing, Namseoul University, Cheonan, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Hong, Sun Woo. Department of Emergency Medical Technology, Daejeon University, 62 Daehak-ro, Dong-gu, Daejeon 300-716, Korea. Tel: +82-42-280-2938, Fax: +82-42-280-2946, swhong@dju.kr

Received 9 June 2014       Revised 18 June 2014       Accepted 10 September 2014

© 2014 Korean Society of Nursing Science

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivs License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/) If the original work is properly cited and retained without any modification or reproduction, it can be used and re-distributed in any format and medium.

Abstract

Purpose

The study was done to identify the construct validity and reliability of the life transition scale (LTS) for parents who have children with autism.

Methods

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmative factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to identify the most adequate measurement model for structural validity. Convergent validity and discriminant validity were also conducted for structural validity. Data were collected from 208 parents through self-reported questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS/WIN 15.0 and AMOS 20.0 version.

Results

A four factor-structure was validated (χ2=541.23, p<.001, GFI=.82, RMSEA=.07, IFI=.89, CFI=.89, PNFI=.73, Q (χ2/df)=2.20) at the 3rd order of EFA and CFA, and factors were named as denying, wandering, despairing, and accepting. Both convergent and determinant validity for LTS were 100%. Cronbach's alphas for the reliability of each structure were .77-.90 and .83 for total structure.

Conclusion

The four structures, 24-item instrument showed satisfactory reliability and validity. LTS has the potential to be appropriate for assessing the transition process of life for parents who have children with autism and provides basic directions for differentiated support and care at each stage.

Keywords: Autistic disorder, Parents, Transition, Validity

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
The path diagram of measured model.
jkan-44-563-g001
Table 1
General Characteristics of Children and Parents (N=415)
jkan-44-563-i001
Table 2
Factor Pattern Matrix, Communalities and Reliabilities of LTS (N=208)
jkan-44-563-i002

LTS=Life Transition Scale.

Table 3
Fitness Statistics of Measured Model (N=208)
jkan-44-563-i003

GFI=Goodness of Fit Index; RMSEA=Root Mean Squared Error of Approximation; IFI=Incremental Fit Index; CFI=Comparative Fit Index; PNFI=Parsimony Normed Fit Index.

Table 4
Multitrait/Multi-item Matrix for Convergent and Discriminant Validity of LTS (N=208)
jkan-44-563-i004

LTS=Life Transition Scale.

Notes

This study was supported financially by the research fund of Wonkwang Health Science University in 2013.

References

1. Ministry of Health & Welfare. Status of disabled [Internet]. Seoul: Author;2013. cited 2014 May 1. Available from: http://www.index.go.kr/potal/main/EachDtlPageDetail.do?idx_cd=2768.
2. Hall HR, Graff JC. Maladaptive behaviors of children with autism: Parent support, stress, and coping. Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs. 2012; 35(3-4):194–214. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/01460862.2012.734210.
3. Hoffman CD, Sweeney DP, Hodge D, Lopez-Wagner MC, Looney L. Parenting stress and closeness: Mothers of typically developing children and mothers of children with autism. Focus Autism Other Dev Disabl. 2009; 15(1):178–187. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1088357609338715.
4. Dabrowska A, Pisula E. Parenting stress and coping styles in mothers and fathers of pre-school children with autism and Down syndrome. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2010; 54(3):266–280. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2010.01258.x.
5. Hayes SA, Watson SL. The impact of parenting stress: A meta-analysis of studies comparing the experience of parenting stress in parents of children with and without autism spectrum disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2013; 43(3):629–642. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1604-y.
6. Davis NO, Carter AS. Parenting stress in mothers and fathers of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders: Associations with child characteristics. J Autism Dev Disord. 2008; 38(7):1278–1291. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0512-z.
7. Gray DE. Coping over time: The parents of children with autism. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2006; 50(Pt 12):970–976. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00933.x.
8. Lee AR, Hong SW, Kim JS, Ju SJ. Life transition of mothers of children with autism. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2010; 40(6):808–819. http://dx.doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2010.40.6.808.
9. Lee AR, Hong SW, Ju SJ. Development of a scale to measure life transition process in parents of children with autism. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2012; 42(6):861–869. http://dx.doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2012.42.6.861.
10. Lee K, Shin S. Validity of instrument development research in Korean nursing research. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2013; 43(6):697–703. http://dx.doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2013.43.6.697.
11. Kang H. A guide on the use of factor analysis in the assessment of construct validity. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2013; 43(5):587–594. http://dx.doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2013.43.5.587.
12. Bae BR. Structural equation modeling with Amos 7: Principles and practice. Seoul: CRBooks;2007.
13. Kim GS. New Amos 16.0 Structural equation modeling analysis. Seoul: Hannarae Publishing Co.;2007.
14. Kang H. Discussions on the suitable interpretation of model fit indices and the strategies to fit model in structural equation modeling. J Korean Data Anal Soc. 2013; 15(2):653–668.
15. Lee Y, Lee M. Development and validity of workplace bullying in nursing-type inventory (WPBN-TI). J Korean Acad Nurs. 2014; 44(2):209–218. http://dx.doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2014.44.2.209.
16. Yu JP. Concept and understanding of structure equation model: Amos 4.0-20.0. Seoul: Hannarae Publishing Co.;2012.
17. Kim EJ. Accessing factor structure and construct validity of the successful aging inventory. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2013; 43(4):568–578. http://dx.doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2013.43.4.568.
18. Boström PK, Broberg M, Hwang P. Parents' descriptions and experiences of young children recently diagnosed with intellectual disability. Child Care Health Dev. 2010; 36(1):93–100. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2009.01036.x.
19. Penzo JA, Harvey P. Understanding parental grief as a response to mental illness: Implications for practice. J Fam Soc Work. 2008; 11(3):323–338. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10522150802292616.
20. Churchill SS, Villareale NL, Monaghan TA, Sharp VL, Kieckhefer GM. Parents of children with special health care needs who have better coping skills have fewer depressive symptoms. Matern Child Health J. 2010; 14(1):47–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10995-008-0435-0.
21. Neely-Barnes SL, Hall HR, Roberts RJ, Graff JC. Parenting a child with an autism spectrum disorder: Public perceptions and parental conceptualizations. J Fam Soc Work. 2011; 14(3):208–225. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10522158.2011.571539.
22. Green SE. "We're tired, not sad": Benefits and burdens of mothering a child with a disability. Soc Sci Med. 2007; 64(1):150–163. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.08.025.
23. Hastings RP, Kovshoff H, Brown T, Ward NJ, Espinosa FD, Remington B. Coping strategies in mothers and fathers of preschool and school-age children with autism. Autism. 2005; 9(4):377–391. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1362361305056078.
24. Lee AR. A structural model of caring behavior of mothers of disabled children. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2009; 39(5):673–682. http://dx.doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.5.673.
25. Wang P, Michaels CA, Day MS. Stresses and coping strategies of Chinese families with children with autism and other developmental disabilities. J Autism Dev Disord. 2011; 41(6):783–795. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1099-3.
26. Hines M, Balandin S, Togher L. Buried by autism: Older parents' perceptions of autism. Autism. 2012; 16(1):15–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1362361311416678.
TOOLS
Similar articles