Development of a Chinese chronic illness-related stress inventory for primary care

This study evaluates the construct validity and internal consistency of a C hronic Illness-Related Stress Inventory (CRSI) for primary care Chinese pat ients and studies the relationship between chronic illness-related stress a nd sociodemographic characteristics and indices of disease severity. A tota l of 301 patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The re sponses to the CRSI were divided into a frequency scale and a severity scal e. Six factors including physical integrity and discomfort, psychosocial fu nction and economic burdens, self-fulfillment and daily life, sexual functi on, self-esteem, and diet limitations were obtained for each CRSI scale. Ex cept for the last factor, all other factors and the scale as a whole for bo th scales have a Cronbach alpha of >0.90. The results of the convergent and discriminant validity analysis were promising. In addition, chronic illnes s-related stress was related to insurance status and the self-perceived sev erity of disease. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.