Adherence in Childhood Diabetes: Results of a Confirmatory Factor Analysis

In an earlier study ( Johnson, Silverstein, Rosenbloom, Carter, & Cunningham, 1986 ), an exploratory factor analysis identified five components of adherence in childhood diabetes. In this investigation, a simultaneous confirmatory analysis was used to test the equality of this factor pattern across two independent samples. Factors 1 through 4- Exercise, Injection, Diet Type, and Eating/Testing Frequency-were confirmed. Factor 5-Diet Amount-proved to be too complex; the adherence measures comprising this factor (total calories and concentrated sweets consumed) are best treated as separate, single-indicator constructs. The results support a multivariate conceptualization of adherence, offer insight into the nature of the components underlying diabetes adherence, and provide measurement information for reliable component estimation. Key words: adherence, diabetes, children, factor analysis