Preliminary Evidence for the Validity and Reliability of the Caregiver Reaction Scale

ABSTRACT

Objective: Reliable and valid measures of caregiver experience are critical components of researching the caregiver experience and providing effective care to family caregivers. Assessments should be comprehensive, including positive aspects of caregiving as well as multiple dimensions of stress and burden (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2006). One such measure is the Caregiver Reaction Scale (CRS), a clinical tool adapted from research protocols in 1990.

Methods: This study is a preliminary examination of the psychometric properties of the CRS using a sample of family caregivers (N = 502) seeking services at a community based mental health and aging family service agency.

Results: The eight subscales of the CRS exhibited very good internal reliability α ≥ .81. Test-retest reliability was r ≥ .62, and convergent validity evidence is positive. Means and standard deviations are reported.

Conclusions: Initial psychometrics suggest the CRS offers a reliable and valid assessment of multiple dimensions of the caregiving experience and warrants further research.

KEYWORDS:

• Caregiver burden
• caregiving assessment
• positive aspects of caregiving

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the ongoing support of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Aging Center and the Director, Dr. Michael Kenny, PsyD.

Notes

¹ Scale published in Qualls, S. H. & Williams, A. A. (2013). Caregiver family therapy: Empowering families to meet the challenges of aging. (pp. 245–247) Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Additional information

Funding

This project was partially supported by the Gerontology Center at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.