Psychometric evaluation of novel measures of partner interfering and supportive behaviors among women with cancer

Psychooncology. 2016 Dec;25(12):1500-1506. doi: 10.1002/pon.3990. Epub 2015 Oct 1.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of complementary and novel measures of partner interfering and partner supportive behaviors in cancer care (PIB-C and PSB-C).

Methods: Structured telephone interviews were conducted with 378 women (aged 18-79) in partnered relationships and recruited from the Kentucky Cancer Registry. Psychometric analyses of PIB-C and PSB-C were used to determine scale reliability, and scale construct and predictive validity (correlations with indicators of partner abuse, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress after cancer).

Results: Cronbach's alpha and split-half calculations indicated excellent internal consistency of the 20-item PIB-C (0.936 and 0.87, respectively) and 12-item PSB-C (0.930 and 0.89). Three thematic clusters for the PIB-C and two for the PSB-C were identified through factor analyses. Regarding construct validity, higher PIB-C and lower PSB-C scores were associated with a measure of psychological impacts from abuse. Predictive validity was suggested through (1) lower PSB-C associated with depression, (2) higher PIB-C associated with anxiety, and (3) higher perceived stress associated with higher PIB-C/lower PSB-C scores.

Conclusion: Both PIB-C and PSB-C have strong psychometric properties and distinguish partner behaviors more likely to negatively impact women's depression, anxiety, and stress during cancer care/recovery. Use of these measures may assist clinical teams in comprehensively assessing women patients' home environment to best ensure cancer care/recovery. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interview, Psychological*
  • Kentucky
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / psychology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data*
  • Social Environment
  • Social Support*
  • Spouses / psychology*
  • Young Adult