Assessing measurement invariance of the diabetes stress questionnaire in youth with type 1 diabetes

Rebecca C Kamody; Kristoffer S Berlin; Anthony A Hains; Jessica C Kichler; W Hobart Davies; Alicia M Diaz-Thomas; Robert J Ferry Jr

doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsu076

Assessing measurement invariance of the diabetes stress questionnaire in youth with type 1 diabetes

J Pediatr Psychol. 2014 Nov-Dec;39(10):1138-48. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsu076. Epub 2014 Sep 23.

Authors

Rebecca C Kamody¹, Kristoffer S Berlin², Anthony A Hains³, Jessica C Kichler³, W Hobart Davies³, Alicia M Diaz-Thomas², Robert J Ferry Jr³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and LeBonheur Children's Hospital rebecca.kamody@gmail.com.
² Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and LeBonheur Children's Hospital Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and LeBonheur Children's Hospital.
³ Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and LeBonheur Children's Hospital.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the factor structure and measurement invariance of the Diabetes Stress Questionnaire (DSQ), a measure of diabetes-specific stress, across sex, age (<9th grade vs. ≥9th grade), and glycemic control (optimal vs. suboptimal).

Methods: Data from 318 adolescent participants were pooled from four archival data sets and the ongoing Predicting Resiliency in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes study in which the DSQ was completed. Confirmatory factor and measurement invariance analyses were conducted to confirm the proposed factor structure and measurement invariance across sex, age, and glycemic control.

Results: The DSQ factor structure was found to have an acceptable fit, which was invariant across sex, age, and glycemic control.

Conclusions: When using the DSQ, differences in diabetes-related stress with respect to sex, age, or glycemic control can be considered meaningful. This study supports the DSQ as an evidence-based and well-established assessment of perceived diabetes stress in youth with type 1 diabetes.

Keywords: chronic illness; diabetes; endocrinology; statistical applications; stress.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Attitude to Health*
Blood Glucose
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / psychology*
Female
Humans
Male
Stress, Psychological / psychology*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

Blood Glucose

Grants and funding

U01 DK085465/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States