title: Dutch normative data and psychometric properties for the Distress Thermometer for Parents.
abstract: The aim of this study was to provide Dutch normative data for the Distress Thermometer for Parents (DT-P) and to assess internal consistency and known-groups validity.
  
  
  
  A sample of 1421 parents (60.7 % mothers), representative of the Dutch population, completed online sociodemographic questionnaire and the DT-P, which includes a thermometer (0 (no distress) to 10 (extreme distress), ≥4 clinically elevated distress) and everyday problems across six problem domains (practical, social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and parenting). Internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach's alphas. Known-groups validity was assessed by comparing parents of a child with a chronic condition (N = 287, 20.2 %) with parents of healthy children, using Mann-Whitney U tests and Chi-square tests.
  
  
  
  The DT-P showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas = .52-.89). Parents of a child with a chronic condition more often reported clinically elevated distress than parents of healthy children (53.0 versus 38.2 %, p < .001). Also, on all domains they reported more problems (p = .000-.022). Normative scores for mothers and fathers separately were provided.
  
  
  
  The DT-P distinguishes well between parents of a child with and without a chronic condition. With the current norms available, distress can be evaluated in parents of a child with a chronic condition compared to parents of healthy children in pediatric clinical practice.
authors: Psychosocial Department G8-136, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Hedy A
authors: HA
authors: van Oers
authors: Psychosocial Department G8-136, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Sasja A
authors: SA
authors: Schepers
authors: Psychosocial Department G8-136, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Martha A
authors: MA
authors: Grootenhuis
authors: Psychosocial Department G8-136, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. l.haverman@amc.uva.nl.
authors: Lotte
authors: L
authors: Haverman
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
keywords: Distress; Parents; Pediatrics; Psychosocial functioning; Questionnaire; Screening