Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Parental Burnout Questionnaire for Parents of Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Rezvan Maleki; Masoud Asadi; Zahra Jahanbakhshi

Authors

Rezvan Maleki Department of Counseling, Ar.C., Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5905-9731
Masoud Asadi Department of Psychology and Counseling, Arak University, Arak, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5872-7673
Zahra Jahanbakhshi Department of Counseling, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2839-9960

Keywords:

psychosomatic consequences, erosion of emotional capital, parental burnout, adolescents, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, multilevel blaming system

Abstract

Purpose: The present study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Parental Burnout Questionnaire for Parents of Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Methods and Materials: This study employed a mixed-methods (qualitative–quantitative) approach using a sequential exploratory design. The qualitative phase was conducted based on Charmaz’s (2020) constructivist grounded theory methodology and included 15 parents of adolescents aged 14–18 years with ADHD in Arak, Iran, who were selected through purposive sampling. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed through four stages of initial, focused, axial, and theoretical coding. The quantitative phase employed a correlational design and instrument validation procedure and was conducted among 200 parents (100 mothers and 100 fathers) of adolescents with ADHD in Arak, selected through convenience sampling. Face validity was assessed with the participation of 40 parents, and content validity was evaluated by 12 specialists in psychology and counseling. Construct validity was examined using second-order confirmatory factor analysis and the standardized root mean square residual (SRMR), normed fit index (NFI), and goodness-of-fit (GOF) indices. Instrument reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and composite reliability (CR). Convergent and divergent validity were also examined by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients with the Autism Parenting Stress Scale (A), Brief Parental Burnout Scale (BPBs), and Parenting Self-Agency Measure (PSAM). SPSS version 25 and SmartPLS version 3 were used for quantitative data analysis.

Findings: Analysis of the qualitative data resulted in the development of a 37-item questionnaire comprising three components: the multilevel blaming system, erosion of emotional capital, and psychosomatic consequences. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the total questionnaire was 0.97, and the composite reliability coefficients of the components ranged from 0.92 to 0.94. Content validity (I-CVI ranging from 0.92 to 1.00) and face validity (CVI > 0.91) were satisfactory. The results of second-order confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor structure of the questionnaire, with standardized factor loadings ranging from 0.49 to 0.81. Model fit indices indicated a very good fit (SRMR < 0.06, NFI > 0.90, GOF = 0.35). Convergent validity was supported by significant positive correlations with parenting stress and parental burnout (0.63 and 0.46, respectively), whereas divergent validity was supported by a significant negative correlation with parental self-efficacy (−0.47).

Conclusion: The Parental Burnout Scale for Parents of Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (PBS-ADHD) demonstrates satisfactory validity and reliability and can be used as a valid, culturally grounded instrument in studies assessing parental burnout among Iranian parents of adolescents with ADHD.

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