Should we use the Parental Stress Index-Short Form in parents of children with ASD? A French validation study.
The French PSI-SF is ready for clinical use with autism parents, just like its English version.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers tested the French Parental Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) with 370 parents of children with autism.
They checked if the 21-item scale measured stress the same way in French as it does in English.
The team looked at factor structure, internal consistency, and how well scores matched other stress measures.
What they found
The French PSI-SF held up well. It showed three clear factors and good internal consistency.
Scores correlated moderately with other stress measures, showing the tool works for French ASD parents.
The 21-item version is ready for clinical use while longer-term refinements continue.
How this fits with other research
Bao et al. (2017) did the same kind of validation work for the French NCCPC-ASD pain scale. Both studies show French parent-report tools work well for autism families.
Zhou et al. (2025) validated a Chinese caregiver discrimination scale using similar methods. This tells us cross-cultural validation is becoming standard practice.
Ben-Yehudah et al. (2019) used the original PSI-SF to link self-compassion with parent stress. The new French validation means we can now test these same relationships in French-speaking families.
Why it matters
You can now use the 21-item French PSI-SF with confidence when working with Quebec or French-speaking families. The tool gives reliable stress scores in under five minutes. This opens the door for French-language caregiver support programs and research that matches what we already do in English.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit higher levels of parental stress than parents of typically developing children. The most frequently used tools to assess parental stress is the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) or its Short Form (PSI-SF). AIMS: This study was designed to test the validity of the PSI-SF in French parents of children with ASD (N = 370). METHODS AND PROCEDURES: First, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the initial 3-factor structure (36 items) which indicate a poor model fit. Then, an exploratory factor analysis was performed and convergent validity was assessed. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: A 3-factor structure (21 items) explaining 44 % of the variance was observed. Dimensions were moderately correlated and exhibited good internal consistency. Convergent validity was checked through the PSI-SF association with anxiety and depression (HADS), quality of life (WHOQOL-Brief) and appraisal of being a parent of a child with ASD (ALES). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Future research should use the full version of the PSI-SF and examine its factor structure. More studies on the factor structure of the PSI-SF are needed to find out if it is a suitable tool for measuring stress in parents of children with ASD in France.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2020 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103716