Evidence of Internal Validity of the Social Skills Inventory for Caregivers (SSI-CE) in Brazil

• Queluz, Francine Náthalie Ferraresi Rodrigues ^[2] ; de Santis, Ligia ^[3] ; Moran, Valeria Estefanía ^[4] ; Cortez, Pedro Afonso ^[1] ; dos Santos, Acácia Aparecida Angeli ^[3]
  1. [1] Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná

     Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná

     Brasil

     
  2. [2] Department of Psychology, Adventist University of São Paulo, Hortolândia, Brazil
  3. [3] Postgraduation Program in Psychology, São Francisco University, Campinas, Brazil
  4. [4] Department of Social and Human Sciences, Siglo 21 University, Cordoba, Argentina

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• Localización: Interpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships, ISSN-e 1981-6472, Vol. 16, Nº. 1, 2022, págs. 17-35
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • With population aging, it is important to develop studies on psychological skills that can facilitate the task of caregivers of a dependent older adult. The Social Skills Inventory for Caregivers of the Elderly (SSI-CE) is an assessment tool for this purpose. Even considering that the instrument already has evidence of validity, the aim of this study is to seek additional evidence of validity for the SSI-CE. To this end, 533 family caregivers of older adults with an average age of 49.7 years were investigated by responding to the following instruments: Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Brazil Economic Classification Criteria, and SSI-CE. Initially, two factor models for the SSI-CE were compared (second-order and bifactor models). Then, analyses were performed for measurement invariance and sample heterogeneity of the SSI-CE in relation to the variables age, gender, presence of dementia in the elderly care receiver, and type of data collection (online or in-person). Finally, the instrument's reliability values were checked. After comparing the models, the second-order model was the most appropriate, as it displayed reliability values ranging from ω = 0.66 to ω = 0.89. In invariance analysis, variability was found for sample heterogeneity in the variables gender, presence of dementia, and type of data collection. In conclusion, the calculation of a global score for the SSI-CE is pertinent, with good evidence of internal validity. However, specific rules should be established, considering different sample characteristics.