The dimensionality, psychometrics and standardization of Caregiver Distress Scale (CDS)

This study was undertaken on 200 caregivers of hospitalized patients. The task was to standardized the caregivers‘ scale (English and Hindi) and psychometric characteristics i.e. reliability and validity estimated. Cronbach's Alpha of the scale was found 0.82, which is very high. Content validity of the scale was verified by a number of experts, academicians and professionals. Using a more structured method, exploratory factor analysis was conducted and six factors emerged in the analysis. In summing up all six factors explained 59.08% of the total variance which confirms the high factorial/construct validity. Further, inter-factorial correlations among sub dimensions of caregiver distress found highly significant. It can be concluded that the present piece of research work confirm high reliability and validity of caregiver distress scale. Conclusion drawn, implications and suggestions for future research proposed. Caregiver distress is the emotional and physical strain experienced by a person caring for someone with a chronic debilitating disease or life threatening condition. Caregivers may become patient themselves, especially if they neglect meeting their own psychological and physiological needs.