A brief version of the Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP) in Spanish population: Stress of main family carers of chronic paediatric patients

Abstract

A chronic illness in childhood has a negative impact on the paediatric patient and on family functioning. Psychological stress in parents influences the level of adjustment to the illness of their children. The Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP) was designed to measure stress in parents whose child has a chronic illness or requires prolonged medical monitoring. The main objective of this study is to provide a brief version of the Spanish translation of the PIP, across a sample consisting of 465 main familial caregivers (85.2% female, n = 396) between 27 and 67 years old ( = 44.13; SD = 5.35) of paediatric patients between 9 and 18 years old ( = 12.10, SD = 2.20; 56.8% men, n = 264) diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type I (20.9% of the sample; n = 97), short stature (32.5% of the sample; n = 151), or a chronic respiratory disease (asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiectasis) (46.6% of the sample; n = 217). After performing several EFAs (Exploratory Factor Analyses) and CFAs (Confirmatory Factorial Analyses), it was decided that 30 items need to be removed. Reliability and validity results suggest that the new 12-item version possesses appropriate psychometric properties. Cronbach’s alpha value ranging between α = .42 and α = .81 and fit values obtained indicate a good fit: χ2/df (88.393/48) = 1.84 (α < .01); S-B χ2(df) = 88.393 (48); CFI = .95; IFI = .95; RMSEA = .05 (.033 - .074) for the frequency scales and χ2/df (72.002/48) = 1.5 (α < .01); S-Bχ2(df) = 72.002 (48); CFI = .97; IFI = .97; RMSEA = .04 (.011 - .063) for the difficulty scales. The PIP also showed predictive ability in regards to anxiety and depression, a positive relationship between the instrument's own scales and a negative relationship with the caregiver's age. Finally, depending on the paediatric patient's diagnosis, differences in stress levels were found.

Factors associated with anxiety in family caregivers of children with chronic diseases

“…Caregivers also scored low on variables assessing maladjustment (negative coping and insecure attachment). These results coincide with empirical evidence previously reported for this context and population [23, 29, 30, 32, 36, 49].…”

Parental Stress, Anxiety and Depression Symptoms Associated with Self-Efficacy in Paediatric Type 1 Diabetes: A Literature Review

“…Moreover, a study evaluating the validity of the Paediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP; a self-report aimed at assessing stress levels in parents with a child presenting a chronic illness) showed the positive predictive role of three domains, namely communication frequency (i.e., talking about the child illness), role function frequency (i.e., issues referred to the caregiver role as a parent, partner and person with their own need) and emotional problems frequency (i.e., negative emotionality referred to the child illness) [ 32 ]. Differently, parents’ age appeared as negatively predicting anxiety [ 33 ]. Considering gender differences should be noted how studies present contrasting results since on the one hand they report that mothers show higher levels of paediatric parenting stress than fathers [ 33 ].…”

Levantando la voz: las cuidadoras en el hogar de personas en situación de dependencia. [Speakin out loud: women as caretakers of dependent people at home]

“…Se creó una entrevista semiestructurada de 55 preguntas, para llevar a cabo la presente investigación. La entrevista fue elaborada teniendo en cuenta las diferentes dimensiones propuestas en la literatura alrededor del cuidado informal y la perspectiva de género, a saber: perfil de las personas cuidadoras, impacto de los cuidados en la vida familiar, la estructura de género como proveedora de ayuda y apoyo en los cuidados, el rol tradicional de la mujer cuidadora, tareas domésticas y de cuidados ejercidas por mujeres, el trabajo de atención como un trabajo de género, aprendizaje de los cuidados, la voluntad de cuidar bien, compromiso, idoneidad del cuidado, las dificultades del cuidado, salud física y emocional de las cuidadoras, sobrecarga, estrés, impacto laboral del cuidado aislamiento social (Bremer et al, 2011;Casademont, 2018;Casaña-Granell et al, 2018;Cheix et al, 2015;Estrada et al, 2018;Fernández, 2018;LuÈdecke et al, 2018;Moral-Fernández et al, 2017;Peterson, 2015;Ransmayr et al, 2018;Tomás et al, 2019;Unson, Flynn, Haymes, Sancho, y Glendon, 2016;Valero-Moreno et al, 2018). Por lo tanto, las dimensiones de la entrevista y su contenido se pueden consultar en la Tabla 1.…”

“…Por lo que respecta al impacto físico y emocional reconocido, nuestras cuidadoras aseguran sentirse preocupadas, estresadas y sobrecargadas física y emocionalmente. Además, la mayoría no siente el apoyo informal y formal necesario por parte de otros, teniendo graves conflictos familiares y disminuyendo sus interacciones positivas con la familia y amigos (Bremer et al, 2011;Casademont, 2018;Casaña-Granell et al, 2018;Cheix et al, 2015;Estrada et al, 2018;Fernández, 2018;LuÈdecke et al, 2018;Moral-Fernández et al, 2017;Peterson, 2015;Ransmayr et al, 2018;Tomás et al, 2019;Unson et al, 2016;Valero-Moreno et al, 2018). Este aspecto es de notable importancia, puesto que la literatura ha señalado que la disminución del apoyo social se asocia estrechamente con una mayor tasa de enfermedades físicas y mentales, y con ello, con una mayor mortalidad (Lacomba-Trejo, Valero-Moreno, Mateu-Mollá, Sanz-Cruces y García-Cuenca, 2016;Mateu-Mollá, Lacomba-Trejo, y Valero-Moreno, 2015).…”

“…Son frecuentes: el estrés, las preocupaciones por el futuro de su familiar, la incapacidad para focalizar su atención en otros ámbitos que no sea el cuidado, los sentimientos de responsabilidad y obligación y la presión personal, lo que genera un gran agotamiento mental. Así, un gran porcentaje de personas cuidadoras muestra síntomas ansiosos y depresivos (Casaña-Granell et al, 2018;Casademont, 2018;Fernández, 2018;Arias-Gallegos, Cahuana-Cuentas, Ceballos-Canaza, y Caycho-Rodríguez, 2019).…”