Skip to main content
Log in

MFT trainee adjustment to program lifestyle stress: The TAPS scale

  • Training and Learning in Therapy
  • Published:
Contemporary Family Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The 30-item Trainee Adjustment to Program Stress (TAPS) scale was developed to measure lifestyle stress of family therapy trainees. Initially, 70 items were generated from propositional statements based on four constructs. Following pilot testing, 329 out of 900 (37%) student members of the American Association for Mariage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) returned TAPS questionnaires. Internal consistency reliability analyses and principal components and factor analyses produced a final 30 item TAPS scale appropriate for use in family therapy training programs. Reliability and validity measures are reported.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aldous, J. (1970). Strategies for developing family theory.Journal of Marriage and the Family 32, 250–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alluisi, E. (1982). Stress and stressors: Commonplace and otherwise. In E. Alluisi, & E. Fleishman (Eds.),Human performance and productivity: Stress and performance effectiveness (pp. 1–10). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anastasi, A. (1988).Psychological testing. New York: Macmillian.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J. (1987). Structured equational modeling in the social and behavioral sciences: Model building.Child Development, 58, 49–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, J., & Bhagat, R. (1987). Meaning and measurement of stressors in the work environment. In S. Kasl, & C. Cooper (Eds.),Stress and health: Issues in research methodology (pp. 207–230). Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beehr, T., & O'Hara, K. (1987). Methodological designs for the evaluation of occupational stress interventions. In S. Kasl, & C. Cooper (Eds.),Stress and health: Issues in research methodology (pp. 79–112). Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biddle, B., & Marlin, M. (1987). Causality, confirmation, credulity, and structured equational modeling.Child Development, 58, 4–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boss, P. (1987). Family stress. In M. Sussman, & S. Steinmetz, (Eds.),Handbook of marriage and the family (pp. 695–723). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brody, E., & Farber, B. (1989). Effects of psychotherapy on significant others.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 20, 116–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B. (1980). Perspectives on social stress. In H. Selye (Ed.),Selye's guide to stress research (pp. 110–135). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burr, W. (1973).Theory construction and the sociology of the family. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, H. (1982). The prevalence and ramifications of psychopathology in psychiatrist residents. An overview.American Journal of Psychiatry, 139, 1405–1411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carmines, E., & Zeller, R. (1982).Reliability and validity measures. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaney, S., & Piercy, F. (1988). A feminist family therapy behavior checklist.American Journal of Family Therapy, 16, 305–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherniss, C., & Dantzig, S. (1986). Preventing and managing job-related stress. In R. Kilburg, P. Nathan, & R. Thoreson (Eds.),Professional in distress: Issues, syndromes, and solutions in psychology (pp. 255–274). Washington DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, R., Swerdik, M., & Smith, D. (1992).Psychological testing and assessment (2nd ed.). Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dana, R. (1987). Training for professional psychology: Science, practice, and identity.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 18, 9–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, J. (1988). The determinants and consequences of coping. In C. Cooper, & R. Payne (Eds.),Causes, coping and consequences of stress at work (pp. 233–236). Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Everely, G., & Sobelman, S. (1987).Assessment of the human stress response: Neurological, biochemical, and psychological foundations. New York: AMS Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garfinkel, P., & Waring, E. (1981). Personality interests and emotional disturbances in psychiatric residents.American Journal of Psychiatry, 131, 51–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghiselli, E., Campbell, J., & Zedeck, S. (1981).Measurement theory for the behavioral sciences. New York: W. H. Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenfield, D. (1985). Stress of the psychotherapeutic role.Hillside Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 7, 165–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guy, J., & Liabe, G., (1986). The impact of conducting psychotherapy on psychotherapist's interpersonal functioning.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 17, 111–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Himmelfarb, S. (1992). The measurement of attitude. In A. Eagly, & S. Chaiken (Eds.),The psychology of attitudes (pp. 45–74). New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jex, H. (1988). Measuring mental workload: Problems, progress, and promises. In P. Hancock, & N. Meshkati (Eds.),Human mental workload (pp. 5–40). Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joreskog, K., & Sorbom, D. (1989).SPSS LISREL 7. Chicago: SPSS Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karasek, R. (1981). Job socialization and job strain: The implications of two psychosocial mechanisms for job design. In G. Gardell, & G. Johansson (Eds.),Working life (pp. 82–115). Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaslow, F., & Schulman, N. (1987). How to be sane and happy as a family therapist, or the reciprocal impact of family therapy teaching and practice and therapist's personal lives and mental health.Journal of Psychotherapy and the Family, 3, 79–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R., & Folkman, S. (1984).Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liddle, H., & Saba, G. (1983). On context replication: The isomorphic relationship of training and therapy.Journal of Strategic and Systemic Therapies, 2, 3–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liddle, H. (1986). Redefining the mission of family therapy: Can our differentness make a difference? In C. Figley (Ed.),Family therapy supervision and education (pp. 109–124). New York: Haworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madders, J. (1989). Introducing relaxation methods to young children. In F. McGuigan, W. Sine, & J. Wallace (Eds.),Stress and tension control 3: Stress management (pp. 201–208). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matheny, K., Aycock, D., Pugh, J., Curlette, W., & Cannella, K. (1986). Stress coping: A qualitative and quantitative synthesis with implications for treatment.Consulting Psychologist, 14, 499–549.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCrae, R. (1984). Situational determinants of coping responses: Loss, threat, and challenge.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 919–928.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCubbin, H., & Patterson, J. (1983). Family transitions: Adaptation to stress. In H. McCubbin & C. Figley (Eds.),Stress and the family volume 1: Coping with normaltive transitions (pp. 5–25). New York: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCubbin, M., & McCubbin, H. (1987). Family stress theory and assessment: The t-double abcx model of family adjustment and adaptation. In H. McCubbin, & A. Thompson (Eds.),Family assessment inventories for practice and research (pp. 3–34). Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin-Madison Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGrath, J. (1970).Social and psychological factors in stress. New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, D. (1986).Measuring social attitudes: A handbook for researchers and practioners. New York: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunnally, J. (1978).Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasnau, R., & Russel, A. (1975). Psychiatry resident suicides: An analysis of five cases.American Journal of Psychiatry 132, 402–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedhazur, E. (1982).Multiple regression in behavioral research: Explanation and prediction. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polson, M., & Piercy, F. (1993). The impact of training stress on married family therapy trainees and their families: A focus group study.Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 4, 69–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Racusin, G., & Abramowitz, S. (1987). Psychotherapy and marital stress.Journal of Psychiatric Education, 11, 182–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodolfa, E., Kraft, W., & Reilley, R. (1988). Stressors of professionals and trainees at APA-approved counseling and VA medical center internship sites.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 19, 43–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rupp, M., & Segal, R. (1989). Confirmatory factor analysis of a professionalism scale in pharmacy.Journal of Social Administrative Pharmacy, 6, 31–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson, J., & Norcross, J. (1985). Evaluation activity in psychology training clinics: National survey findings.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 16, 29–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tibbits-Kleber, A., & Howell, R. (1987). Doctoral training in clinical psychology: A student's perspective.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 18, 634–639.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Polson, M., Piercy, F. & Nida, R. MFT trainee adjustment to program lifestyle stress: The TAPS scale. Contemp Fam Ther 18, 405–424 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02197051

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02197051

Key Words

Navigation