The Psychometric Properties of the Family Relationship Hope Scale with Parents and Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

With the rise in prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children, additional resources for mental health professionals to support the caregivers and families are necessary. The present study examined the psychometric properties of a brief, systems-oriented, strength-based assessment, the Family Relationship Hope Scale (FRHS), with parents and caregivers of children with ASD (n = 196). The FRHS is a four item, self-administered survey that examines the hopefulness a person has towards their family's ability to overcome life's challenges together. We conducted both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to assess factor structure of the assessment. Results supported the FRHS as a single factor structure with good model fit and internal consistency. The use of the FRHS could be beneficial for clinicians who work with families to focus on their areas of strength (e.g., hope) rather than deficits (e.g., stress, depression).