Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis of the Child Uncertainty in Illness Scale among children with chronic illness.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the Child Uncertainty in Illness Scale (CUIS) with a sample of children and adolescents with a chronic health condition. Developmental differences in factor structure were also examined.


METHODS
A sample of 373 children aged 8-18 years with chronic conditions completed the CUIS as a part of a larger battery of measures.


RESULTS
The EFA yielded a 16-item two-factor model termed Unpredictability/Ambiguity and Comprehension. The CFA yielded a 14-item two-factor model that fits the data very well, where chi2(df = 74) = 95.396, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = .973, Tucker Lewis Index (TLI) = .967, and Root Mean Square error of approximation (RMSEA) = .038. No developmental differences were found in underlying factor structures: Deltachi2(df = 12) = 17.754, DeltaCFI = .004, DeltaTLI = -.001, and DeltaRMSEA = .000.


CONCLUSIONS
The two-factor CUIS measure could be a useful tool for assessing illness uncertainty among children with chronic illness.
Pai
Ahna L H
AL
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Oncology, 34th Street & Civic Center Boulevard, Room 1487, CHOP North, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. paia@email.chop.edu
Mullins
Larry L
LL
Drotar
Dennis
D
Burant
Christopher
C
Wagner
Janelle
J
Chaney
John M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003071:Cognition; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012803:Sick Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires