Abstract
To advance the conceptualization and measurement of mother-reported instrumental support, the degree to which an individual
receives assistance in the completion of daily life tasks. The psychometric properties of a 9-item instrumental support scale
were evaluated using classical (descriptive statistics, factor analyses, evaluation of construct validity) and modern (Rasch
modeling, differential item functioning) methods. Differences in perceived instrumental support were evaluated as a function
of mothers’ socio-demographic characteristics. Factor analytic and differential item functioning analyses provided support
for two components of instrumental support, household and childcare assistance. Instrumental support is distinct from structural
support and the quality of mothers’ social relationships. Socio-demographic characteristics (e.g., marital status, education
level, income) are associated with access to instrumental support. Differentiating appropriately between support subtypes
may reveal important differences in mother’s qualitative instrumental support experiences and facilitate effective targeting
of social support interventions.
receives assistance in the completion of daily life tasks. The psychometric properties of a 9-item instrumental support scale
were evaluated using classical (descriptive statistics, factor analyses, evaluation of construct validity) and modern (Rasch
modeling, differential item functioning) methods. Differences in perceived instrumental support were evaluated as a function
of mothers’ socio-demographic characteristics. Factor analytic and differential item functioning analyses provided support
for two components of instrumental support, household and childcare assistance. Instrumental support is distinct from structural
support and the quality of mothers’ social relationships. Socio-demographic characteristics (e.g., marital status, education
level, income) are associated with access to instrumental support. Differentiating appropriately between support subtypes
may reveal important differences in mother’s qualitative instrumental support experiences and facilitate effective targeting
of social support interventions.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Methodological Notes
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10995-012-0958-2
- Authors
- Katherine B. Bevans, Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, Room 1452, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399, USA
- Suraj K. Bhatt, Division of Primary Care Pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- John M. Pascoe, Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, Dayton, OH, USA
- Susmita Pati, Division of Primary Care Pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Journal Maternal and Child Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-6628
- Print ISSN 1092-7875