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Dysfunctional Thoughts about Caregiving Questionnaire: psychometric properties of a new measure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 June 2009

Ignacio Montorio ,
Andrés Losada ,
María Izal  and
María Márquez
Ignacio Montorio*
Affiliation:
Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
Andrés Losada
Affiliation:
Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
María Izal
Affiliation:
Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
María Márquez
Affiliation:
Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Ignacio Montorio, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. 28049 – Madrid, Spain. Phone: + 34 91 4975220; Fax: + 34 91 4975215. Email: ignacio.montorio@uam.es.
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Abstract

Background: This study examines the psychometric properties of the Dysfunctional Thoughts about Caregiving Questionnaire (DTCQ).

Methods: DTCQ was administered to 227 dementia family caregivers.

Results: Principal components analyses resulted in a two-factor solution: Perception of Sole Responsibility and Perfectionism. The DTCQ has a strong internal consistency and an adequate temporal stability. The DTCQ score differentiated between depressed and non-depressed caregivers, although only in the female group. Construct validity was also supported by significant relationships between DTCQ scores and global dysfunctional attitudes, social support, seeking social support and number of hours per day engaged in caring. The dysfunctional thoughts about caregiving specify rigid and inappropriate contingencies to guide and assess behavior while acting as cognitive barriers that make healthy care difficult.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that such dysfunctional thoughts have a significant relationship to variables identified as mediators in caregiving stress models. The DTCQ has potential uses for both research and clinical purposes.

Keywords

caregivingwellbeingdysfunctional thoughtsmeasurement
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 21 , Issue 5 , October 2009 , pp. 913 - 921
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2009

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