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A psychometric evaluation of two measures of expressed emotion in caregivers of children with mood disorders

Klaus, Nicole

Abstract Details

2006, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Psychology.

Expressed emotion (EE) refers to criticism, hostility, and emotional overinvolvement (EOI) displayed by family members toward a patient. EE has been associated with higher rates of relapse and poor outcome in adults with a range of psychiatric disorders. In children, caregiver EE is related to presence and course of multiple disorders. EE measures developed for adult populations have been used in studies of children. However, questions have arisen regarding their appropriateness in such applications.

The present study examined reliability, stability, and validity of two measures of EE, the Five Minute Speech Sample (FMSS) and Expressed Emotion Adjective Checklist (EEAC), in caregivers of children with mood disorders. During the FMSS, a relative is asked to speak freely about the patient. Audiotaped speech samples are later coded by qualified raters. The EEAC is a self-report measure listing adjectives that are rated according to their frequency of expression by the patient and relative toward each other.

Both EE measures were completed by 180 mothers and 106 fathers of children with mood disorders as part of a study examining efficacy of family psychoeducational treatments. Data were also collected on constructs theoretically related and unrelated to EE including reports of the child’s behavior, mood, and anxiety symptoms. A subset of parents completed EE measures again six and twelve months later.

FMSS interrater reliability was lower in this sample than in previous studies. Stability was greater at one-year than at six-month follow-up, perhaps reflecting seasonal variations in child mood symptoms. Little evidence was found for validity of the EOI scale. Criticism was concurrently related to child, but not parent, variables. Mothers’ criticism predicted child mood and anxiety symptoms one year later.

EEAC scores remained stable over time. Child subscale scores were most strongly related to other child variables. Parent subscale scores were more strongly related to parent variables. Mothers’ EEAC scores predicted child mood symptoms and fathers’ EEAC scores predicted child behavior problems one year later. Further, mothers’ EEAC scores moderated the effects of psychoeducational treatment. The EEAC appears to be an inexpensive and convenient measure of EE, with validity comparable to or exceeding the FMSS.

Mary Fristad (Advisor)
141 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Klaus, N. (2006). A psychometric evaluation of two measures of expressed emotion in caregivers of children with mood disorders [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1145913694

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Klaus, Nicole. A psychometric evaluation of two measures of expressed emotion in caregivers of children with mood disorders. 2006. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1145913694.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Klaus, Nicole. "A psychometric evaluation of two measures of expressed emotion in caregivers of children with mood disorders." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1145913694

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)