Comparison of electronic and paper and pencil administration of the parenting stress index - short form (PSI-SF)

Purpose to assess whether the electronic version of the Parenting Stress Index – Short Form (PSI-SF) is comparable to the paper and pencil administration. To evaluate stress in parents of children with normal development. Methods forty adults, parents of children between six months and ten years of age, were divided into four groups matched for age, gender, education and child’s age. In two different occasions, seven to ten days apart, participants completed the PSI-SF in the formats: paper-pencil/paper-pencil (PP), paper-pencil/electronic (PE), electronic/electronic (EE) and electronic/paper-pencil (PE). The PSI-SF has 36 statements, divided into three subscales: Parental Distress, Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction, and Difficult Child. Pearson’s correlations and comparison of the PSI-SF scores within and between groups were obtained. Results strong positive correlations were found between PSI-SF subscales and total scores in the first and second administration, for all groups. Significant differences were observed between the mean scores for the PP group (subscale “Difficult Child”;) and EE group (subscale “Difficult Child”; and the total score). Such differences in scores, however, did not alter in any means the interpretation of the results. Participants’ stress fell into normal values, for all subscales. Conclusion the electronic format of the PSI-SF questionnaire yields similar results to the standard paper-and-pencil administration of the test. Observed stress levels were considered normal.