title: The Needs-Based Assessment of Parental (Guardian) Support: a test of its validity and reliability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to present a newly developed measure of guardian support, the Needs-Based Assessment of Parental (Guardian) Support (NAPS), an empirical evaluation of that measure, and its comparison with another measure of guardian support. The theoretical model that underlies this measure applies humanistic theory and Maslow's hierarchy of needs to the understanding of guardian support.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study employed a cross-sectional nonexperimental survey design using 183 nonoffending guardians who accompanied children presenting for a medical/forensic examination for sexual abuse. The NAPS and an existing measure of guardian support were administered during the hospital outpatient visit, and basic information concerning the child and abuse situations were gathered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NAPS had robust psychometric properties and was culturally sensitive. Tests of specific hypotheses supported the construct validity of the measure and a conceptualization of guardian support as hierarchical, with four stages of support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The brevity and ease of administration of the NAPS for both the clinician and guardian suggest that it is a viable assessment tool. The strong support for the NAPS' underlying theoretical model suggests that the nonoffending guardians' available resources need to be considered when assessing guardian support.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Boston University, 264 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bolen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leah Lamb
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gradante
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007872:Legal Guardians / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000592:standards*; D010290:Parents; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012944:Social Support