13 research outputs found
Negative impact and positive value in caregiving: Validation of the COPE Index in a six-country sample of carers
Purpose: The present study attempts to further validate the COPE Index
on a large sample of carers drawn from six European countries. Design
and Methods: We used a cross-sectional survey, with approximately 1,000
carers recruited in each of six countries by means of a common standard
evaluation protocol. Our saturation recruitment of a designated quota of
carers occurred by means of several channels, in identified geographical
zones within countries. Interviews were carried out with primary
informal carers by use of a common assessment tool. We subjected items
of the COPE Index to principal component analysis and we assessed
emergent components through the use of Cronbach’s alpha reliability
procedures. We examined factor components as summative scales for
confirmatory correlations with caregiving and psychological variables.
Results: Three components emerged, which we identified as the negative
impact of caregiving, the positive value of caregiving, and the quality
of support for caregiving. Internal consistency was good for negative
impact and satisfactory for positive value and quality of support.
Negative value was most consistently and strongly correlated with
caregiving and psychological variables, although we did find diverse
associations between these variables and the COPE Index subscales.
Implications: The COPE Index is a brief, first-stage assessment of some
sophistication that can enable health and social care professionals to
develop appropriately targeted interventions to enhance the positive
aspects of the caregiving experience and quality of support, as well as
reduce the negative impacts of caregiving