Caregiver Reaction Scale

The Caregiver Reaction Scale (CRS; Qualls & Kenny, 2008) is a new scale that was adapted for use in a clinical setting from the research instrument used to develop a model of caregiver burden and competence developed by Pearlin, Mullan, Semple and Skaff (1990). The measure includes subscales that assess feelings of role captivity, overload, relational deprivation, competence, personal gain, coping, family beliefs and conflict, job conflicts and financial disruption. Two advantages of this scale for clinical settings include the simplicity of its response format (1-4 likert-type scale ranging from not at all to completely ) and its inclusion of a broad range of possible caregiver responses. In addition to assessing multiple social and emotional impacts of caregiving, the scale taps feelings of competence and self-efficacy as well as family distress and conflict.

In an initial examination of reliability and validity the CRS demonstrated good internal consistency and test-retest reliability as well as good convergent validity (O’Malley & Qualls, 2017). The sample used for this analysis consisted of 502 caregivers seeking help at a community-based mental health clinic. The sample was predominantly female (81 percent), European-American (85 percent), and children (59 percent) or spouses (32 percent) of the care recipient. In the validation study, the scores for seven of the 10 subscales demonstrated very good internal consistency reliability (α ≥ .82). Test-retest reliability over a two-week period revealed that all seven of the 10 scales consistently assessed burden over time, r = .62 to .87. The Job Conflict subscale showed lower test-retest reliability over a 2-week period (r = .49). Test-retest reliability was not calculated for two subscales (Management of Meaning and Finances) because they were not considered unified scales by Pearlin et al (1990). Because these scales consist of disparate items, it is suggested that these subscales be examined at the item level and used to engage the client in further discussion about these areas. Moderate positive correlations between several subscales of the CRS and subscales of the Zarit Burden Interviewopens in new window were found, suggesting good convergent validity.

The CRS is an efficient measure that provides consistent, valid and reliable assessments of multiple reactions to the experience of caregiving, including family-level stresses as well as more traditional burden and role demands, along with a positive responses to caregiving.

O’Malley, K. & Qualls, S.H.  (2017).  Preliminary evidence for the validity and reliability of the Caregiver Reaction Scale.  Clinical Gerontologist, 40, 281-294, doi: 10.1080/07317115.2016.1198858

Pearlin, L. I., Mullan, J. T., Semple, S. J., & Skaff, M.M. (1990). Caregiving and the stress process: An overview of concepts and their measures. The Gerontologist, 30, 583-594, doi: 10.1093/geront/30.5.583