Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA)
Measures both the positive and negative aspects of the caregiving experience across five distinct dimensions.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) was developed by Given CW, Given B, Stommel M, Collins C, King S, Franklin S (1992). It is designed to measure Caregiver Burden and Esteem. The scale is intended for use with Family caregivers of individuals with chronic physical or mental impairments.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 24 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Caregiver’s Esteem, Lack of Family Support, Impact on Finances, Impact on Schedule, Impact on Health.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Caregiver's Esteem | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 | 7 |
| Lack of Family Support | 8,9,10,11,12 | 5 |
| Impact on Finances | 13,14,15 | 3 |
| Impact on Schedule | 16,17,18,19,20 | 5 |
| Impact on Health | 21,22,23,24 | 4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 2 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 1 to 5. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Impact / Low Esteem: 1 – 2
- Moderate Impact / Moderate Esteem: 3 – 3
- High Impact / High Esteem: 4 – 5
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha ranges from 0.80 to 0.90 across subscales.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.