Validating the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire as a Measure of Parent Perceptions of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

The illness perception questionnaire (IPQ) and its revision (IPQ-R) measure perceptions about health-related diagnoses and the influence of cognitions on coping. In this study, the factor structure of a version revised for use with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was investigated with a sample of parents (n = 361) whose children have ASD. Subsequently, multidimensional item response theory was used to evaluate item and subscale properties. Results indicated items from five of the seven IPQ-R-ASD scales loaded as expected, though subscales related to control were not distinct. Additionally, parents' response patterns were evaluated and discussed. Use of this measure in ASD-focused research may enhance understanding of how parents' cognitions of their child's ASD impacts treatment selection, treatment implementation, and overall family well-being.

Utilizing the Common-Sense model of illness representations to explore children’s perceptions of, and coping with ADHD

“…Even though developmental disabilities are not being categorized as illnesses, some researchers have suggested that CSM can be applied to understand the psychosocial implications of such disabilities (Mire, Brewton, Raff, McKee, & Tolar, 2018). In the field of ADHD, the model was used to investigate the relationships between individuals' representations and adherence to medication (Emilsson, Gustafsson, € Ohnstr€ om, & Marteinsdottir, 2017;Kosse, Bouvy, Philbert, de Vries, & Koster, 2017).…”

Vaccine Hesitancy and Attributions for Autism among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Groups of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study

“…One thousand simplex families (i.e., those with only one individual affected by ASD) who were enrolled in the SPARK cohort [Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge; SPARK Consortium, 2018] were randomly selected and invited via email to complete the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines questionnaire [PACV; Opel et al, 2013] and the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire—ASD [IPQ‐R‐ASD; Mire, Tolar, Brewton, Raff, & McKee, 2018]. The inclusion criterion was being the parent of a dependent child (including adult children) who previously consented to be contacted about future studies.…”

“…The IPQ‐R‐ASD is a 76‐item instrument assessing five components of illness representation that was modified to be appropriate for parents to report on their children with ASD [Mire et al, 2018]. The IPQ‐R‐ASD demonstrates strong validity and reliability with the original Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) and its revision (IPQ‐R).…”

“…IPQ-R-ASD. The IPQ-R-ASD is a 76-item instrument assessing five components of illness representation that was modified to be appropriate for parents to report on their children with ASD [Mire et al, 2018]. The IPQ-R-ASD demonstrates strong validity and reliability with the original Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) and its revision Either identified with two or more racial categories (Multiracial) or did not identify with a racial category nor Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity (Other; e.g., Jewish/Hebrew).…”

“…This study was prospectively reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board at Baylor College of Medicine. Mire, Tolar, Brewton, Raff, & McKee, 2018]. The inclusion criterion was being the parent of a dependent child (including adult children) who previously consented to be contacted about future studies.…”