The Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of the Stress Scale for Siblings of Childhood Cancer Patients

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the Turkish version of the "Stress Scale for Siblings of Childhood Cancer Patients (SCCP)".

Methods: This study was conducted with 273 siblings aged 11-16 of childhood cancer patients (SCCPs) who were treated in a hospital in the Black Sea Region of Türkiye between March 2022 and April 2024. Data were collected with "The Sociodemographic Information Form" and "SCCP". The data were examined through descriptive statistics, as well as exploratory and confirmatory factor analyzes.

Results: The SCCP Turkish version is a valid and reliable scale consisting of 27 items and six sub-dimensions. The SCCP Turkish version explained 77.676% of the total variance. The SCCP Turkish version was found to be summable according to Tukey's test of additivity (p = 0.334), and the test-retest reliability of the scale was r = 0.864 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: This study indicate that the Turkish version of the SCCP is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating stress levels in siblings aged 11 to 16.

Practice implications: With SCCP, nurses can determine the stress levels of SCCPs and contribute to the planning of necessary interventions to cope with stress.