Evidence for a Bifactor Structure of the Caregiving Questionnaire with Individuals Involved in Different and Same-Sex Couple Relationships

Abstract

Despite the Caregiving Questionnaire (CQ) being a widely used measure for the study of caregiving behavior in the context of romantic relationships, to date, few studies have focused on empirically evaluating its underlying theoretical structure. The aim of this study was to examine the factorial structure and equivalence across sex and sexual orientation of this instrument. A sample of 912 Chilean individuals currently involved in a couple relationship completed the Caregiving Questionnaire and the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale. After comparing various traditional Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)models, the results provide support for a multidimensional and hierarchical nature of a brief 16-items version of the CQ. More specifically, the analyses supported a bifactor-CFA solution composed of two global factors and four specific factors, suggesting that they add information to the caregiving construct in the context of couple relationships. Additionally, the scale showed measurement invariance across sex and sexual orientation. Finally, significant associations were found between CQ scores with measures of romantic attachment in the expected directions. Theoretical implications about the nature of the caregiving system are discussed.

Anxiety and Avoidance in Close Relationships Are Associated With Responses to Negative and Positive Stimuli

“…Bowlby’s (1958; 1982) attachment theory explains the nature of the child’s ties to the caregiver primarily based on an evolutionary perspective, postulating that a child’s attachment behaviors represent activation of a species-wide behavioral system to enhance the likelihood of survival. Romantic partnerships between adults have also been studied through the lens of attachment theory (Guzman-Gonzalez et al, 2020; Hazan & Shaver, 2017; Shaver et al, 1988). A relevant question is whether infant-caregiver and romantic relationships share similar evolutionary functions.…”

“…Attachment and caregiving have a bidirectional relationship in romantic attachment; when a person feels threatened, the attachment system is activated (as in infant attachment), which triggers a need for closeness with a partner who can provide protection. In turn, when the other person senses their partner in distress, the caregiving system is activated so that they provide a safe, comforting environment for their partner (Guzman-Gonzalez et al, 2020).…”