title: The factor structure of traumatic stress in parents of children with cancer: a longitudinal analysis*.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the factor structure of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and assess its stability over time among parents of children diagnosed with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of children with cancer included in a longitudinal study completed the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Checklist-Civilian Version 2 weeks (n = 249) and 2 (n = 234) and 4 (n = 203) months after their child's diagnosis. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess 3 models of the underlying dimensions of PTSD and invariance tests were used to assess stability over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A longitudinal CFA with the factors reexperiencing, avoidance, dysphoria, and hyperarousal provided best fit to the data. Invariance testing suggested that the pattern and size of loadings were equivalent across the three assessments. Discussions Findings tentatively suggest that PTSS among parents of children with cancer consist of four factors. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Psychosocial Oncology and Supportive Care, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. martin.cernvall@pubcare.uu.se
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cernvall
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alaie
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: von Essen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*