The neglect scale: confirmatory factor analyses in a low-income sample.
The Neglect Scale is an easy-to-administer, retrospective, self-report measure of neglect. Research conducted by Straus and colleagues with college students indicates that this scale has a high level of internal consistency reliability and moderate construct validity. The purpose of this article is to examine the reliability and validity of the Neglect Scale when used with a low-income, inner-city sample. The sample included 151 women who were participating in a neglect prevention demonstration project. The Neglect Scale was completed as part of a computer-administered baseline interview before services were provided. To assess whether the 20-item, four-factor structure reported by Straus et al. fit the data from this sample, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed; the model did not fit the data well. Additional analyses identified a model that did fit the data well and suggest that the Neglect Scale is a promising self-report measure.
Harrington
Donna
D
Ruth H. Young Child Welfare Center, University of Maryland School of Social Work, USA.
Zuravin
Susan
S
DePanfilis
Diane
D
Ting
Laura
L
Dubowitz
Howard
H
D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty; D011594:Psychometrics; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population