Childhood illness-related parenting stress: The pediatric inventory for parents

Objective: io develop a measure of parenting stress related to caring for a child with an illness and to evaluate its psychometric: properties with a group of parents of children with cancer. Methods: One hundred twenty-six parents (105 mothers, 21 fathers) of childr en (65 boys and 61 girls, M age: 12.75 years) being followed by an oncology service were assessed using the 42-item self-report Pediatric Inventory fo r Parents (PIP). Internal consistency was assessed and construct validity w as investigated with standardized, general self-report measures of anxiety and parenting stress. Results: Internal consistency reliability for the PIP was high (Cronbach al pha range:.80-.96). PIP scores were significantly correlated with a measure of state anxiety and also with parenting stress, demonstrating construct v alidity. After we controlled for demographic variables and general parentin g stress, PIP scores showed strong independent associations with state anxi ety. Conclusions: Preliminary data indicate that the PIP is a reliable and valid tool to assess parenting stress in pediatric oncology populations. As a me asure of illness-related parenting stress, the PIP may be used to provide i nformation about parent well-being that extends beyond that obtained from g eneral measures.