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Development of resilience scale for older adults
- Authors:
- LI Yang-Tzu, OW Yvonne Su Yong
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 26(1), 2022, pp.159-168.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: Older adults are more likely to encounter adverse life events and have protective factors that are different from other populations. Currently, there is no resilience scale designed exclusively for older adults. This study aims at developing a new measurement scale for assessing resilience of older adults. Methods: Items of Resilience Scale for Older Adults (RSOA) was generated from thorough literature review. A multiple stage method was applied to examine the psychometric properties of the scale. In pretesting, items that did not meet the psychometric criteria were removed. A sample of 368 older adults was collected in the main survey to perform preliminary item selection and removal, reliability and construct validity analyses. Another survey on 76 samples was then conducted to assess test-retest reliability of the scale. Results: RSOA that comprised four constructs (personal strength, meaning and purpose of life, family support, and social support) with a total of 15 items was developed with good reliability and validity. Cronbach’s α of the scale was 0.882. All the four constructs were found significantly correlated with life satisfaction of older adults. Conclusions: The RSOA is a reliable means of assessing psychological and physical resilience of older people as well as predicting their satisfaction with life. The study may also provide important information about elderly coping with adversity. (Edited publisher abstract)
The will-to-live scale: development, validation, and significance for elderly people
- Author:
- CARMEL Sara
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 21(3), 2017, pp.289-296.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: In old age, the will-to-live (WTL) is one of the most important indicators of subjective well-being (SWB). However, few studies to date have focused on WTL. In these studies, WTL has mainly been evaluated via indirect questions concerning factors that may influence peoples’ WTL, or by measures directed to patients with specific diseases. The current study describes the development and psychometric properties of a new WTL scale. Method: The five-item WTL scale was developed on the basis of previous qualitative and quantitative research, and was evaluated in a longitudinal study of a random sample of 868 adults, aged 75+. Results: Confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) models were computed showing that each of the five items contributed significantly to measurement of a single WTL latent factor. Goodness-of-fit statistics were in ideal parameters for these CFA models at each point of data collection. Moreover, temporal analyses indicated that the relative contribution to measurement for each item was equivalent across time, attesting to reliability of measurement and the construct validity of WTL measurement. Concurrent validity was supported by significant positive correlations between WTL and life satisfaction, happiness, self-rated health, morale, self-rated aging, and, as expected, by inverse associations of WTL with depression and loneliness. Conclusion: The results of these analyses indicate that the WTL scale is a valid and reliable instrument. Considering the importance of the WTL concept in late life, and the psychometric properties of the WTL scale, the authors recommend it for use in research and practice related to older adults’ SWB and end-of-life care. (Edited publisher abstract)
A validity and measurement equivalence study of the ultra-short suicidal ideation scale with older adults
- Authors:
- NUGENT William Robert, CUMMINGS Sherry
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 5(4), 2014, pp.439-459.
- Publisher:
- Society for Social Work and Research
Short-form scales are important tools for use in the assessment of suicide ideation and risk since their brevity makes them ideally suited for use in busy practice settings. This article reports results of a validity study of a short suicidal ideation scale (USSIS) used with an older adult population. The study tests the hypothesis that scores on the USSIS represent magnitude of sucidal thinking. The USSIS was used to gather data on more than 200 adults, ages 50 to 97 years, recruited from 2 clinical settings that serve older adults. Data are analysed to provide evidence from concurrent criterion, divergent, factorial, and known-groups discriminant validity. In addition, analyses was conducted to test measurement equivalence across the 2 study sites. Results are consistent with the scores on the USSIS representing magnitude of suicidal indeation, and with measurement equivalence across the study sites. (Edited publisher abstract)
Seniors' self-administration of the Elder Abuse Suspicion Index (EASI): a feasibility study
- Authors:
- YAFFE Mark J., WEISS Deborah, LITHWICK Maxine
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 24(4), 2012, pp.277-292.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Physician involvement in identifying or reporting elder abuse appears to be low. As part of a research programme to improve the detection of elder abuse, the authors had previously developed and validated a 6-question Elder Abuse Suspicion Index (EASI) that can be asked quickly by family physicians of cognitively intact seniors in their offices. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using a modified version of EASI as a self-administered tool completed by older people during waiting times in physicians’ waiting rooms. The self-administrable version of the EASI (EASI-sa) was completed by a convenience sample of 210 cognitively intact older people aged 65 years and over. The findings were stratified by age, sex, and language (English and French). All completed the EASI-sa within an estimated 5 minutes, 82.9% within 2 minutes. Completion time decreased with higher education, but was not affected by age, sex, language, or measured physical or mental health. No questions went unanswered; no words were poorly understood or discomforting. The process of considering the EASI-sa questions also appeared to be associated with a significantly increased understanding about how elder abuse may present.
Development of short versions for the WHOQOL-OLD module
- Authors:
- FANG Jiqian, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 52(1), February 2012, pp.56-65.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) research group has developed several quality of life instruments including the WHOQOL-OLD module for older adults. The aim of this study was to develop 1 or more short versions of the 24-item WHOQOL-OLD module with acceptable psychometric properties. A secondary analysis was conducted based on the data from the WHOQOL-OLD field study. The data set included 5,566 respondents from 20 international centres. Two-thirds of them randomly selected as a developmental sample, and the remaining third as a validation sample. Three approaches (item response theory [IRT] and regression analysis [REG], classical test theory [CTT] and REG, and CTT and IRT and REG) were performed to develop 3 short-form scales with 6 items each using the developmental sample. The reliability and criterion validity of the 3 short-form scales were evaluated using the validation sample. The 3 versions of short-form WHOQOL-OLD showed similar reliability and validity. The article concludes that the new versions contain the best items of the original module, are much shorter, and have good internal consistency and criterion validity as a whole.
Self-report measure of financial exploitation of older adults
- Authors:
- CONRAD Kendon J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 50(6), December 2010, pp.758-773.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study was designed to improve the measurement of financial exploitation by testing psychometric properties of the older adult financial exploitation measure (OAFEM), a client self-report instrument. Rasch item response theory and traditional validation approaches were used. Questionnaires were administered by 22 adult protective services investigators from 7 agencies in Illinois to 227 substantiated abuse clients. Analyses included tests for dimensionality, model fit, and additional construct validation. Results from the OAFEM were also compared with the substantiation decision of abuse and with investigators’ assessments of financial exploitation using a staff report version. Hypotheses were generated to test hypothesised relationships. The results demonstrated that the OAFEM, including the original 79-, 54-, and 30-item measures, met stringent Rasch analysis fit and unidimensionality criteria and had high internal consistency and item reliability. The validation results were supportive, while leading to reconsideration of aspects of the hypothesised theoretical hierarchy. Thresholds were suggested to demonstrate levels of severity. The article concludes that the measure should help in the assessment of financial exploitation of older adults by both clinicians and researchers.
The development and validity of the age-based rejection sensitivity questionnaire
- Authors:
- KANG Sonia K., CHASTEEN Alison L.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 49(3), June 2009, pp.303-316.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
There is much evidence suggesting that older adults are often negatively affected by aging stereotypes; however, no method to identify individual differences in vulnerability to these effects has yet been developed. This study aimed to develop a reliable and valid questionnaire to measure individual differences in the tendency to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and intensely react to age-based rejection among older adults: the Age-Based Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ-Age). A pilot sample of older adults was asked to identify situations in which negative outcomes related to being an older adult might occur. From these responses, 58 scenarios representing 8 domains and themes were identified. Thirty initial items were created from this pool of scenarios, and this 30-item RSQ-Age underwent intensive testing and refinement to create the final 15-item RSQ-Age. The 15-item RSQ-Age was assessed for internal and test–retest reliability, as well as construct validity. Results revealed that the RSQ-Age has good internal and test–retest, reliability and is a valid measure of age-based rejection sensitivity (RS). Construct validity was supported by correlations with personal RS, age-based stigma consciousness, self-consciousness, awareness of ageism, and self-esteem. The RSQ-Age is a useful measure for researchers and health care workers interested in the relationships between expectancy, perceptions, and reactions to age-based stigma and subsequent cognitive, behavioural, and health-related consequences.
Rasch Analysis of the Geriatric Depression Scale–short form
- Authors:
- CHIANG Karl S., GREEN Kathy E., COX Enid O.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 49(2), April 2009, pp.262-275.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study aimed to examine scale dimensionality, reliability, invariance, targeting, continuity, cutoff scores, and diagnostic use of the Geriatric Depression Scale–Short Form (GDS-SF) over time with a sample of 177 English-speaking U.S. elders. An item response theory, Rasch analysis, was conducted with data from a larger study that implemented 3 interventions and collected data at 3 time points (prior to intervention, after intervention, and a year following the end of intervention). A unidimensional structure was found in this study to adequately fit the data. There appears to be significant differential item functioning, with up to one third of the items indicating that the items have different meanings for different groups of participants. As a screening tool, the GDS-SF is more likely to discriminate between older adults who have a "moderate" level of depression than between those with mild depression and no diagnosed depression. It is recommend that the GDS-SF not be used as the sole method of screening for depression but incorporated into other clinical knowledge related to the geriatric patient in question, given that not all items are equally functional. The GDS-SF may be less effective as a screening tool but could be better used to detect a change in moderate levels of depression. Clinicians may also benefit by identifying person responses that misfit. If an individual provides responses that are atypical, the person might be referred to provide a more in-depth assessment of mental health status.
Older people with enduring mental illness: a needs assessment tool
- Authors:
- ABDUL-HAMID Walid K., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatric Bulletin, 33(3), March 2009, pp.91-95.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
There is a lack of tools to assess the needs of older people with enduring mental illness who have ‘graduated’ from adult mental health services and little is known about this population. The Elderly Psychiatric Needs Schedule (EPNS) was developed and applied to older people with enduring mental illness in contact with the old age and general adult components of an inner-city mental health service. The EPNS proved reliable. The mean number of needs identified was 7.6, of which 4.3 were unmet and 3.3 were met. It is concluded that the EPNS provided a reliable method of needs assessment in this population. The authors offer the EPNS as a tool to assess service needs of older adults with functional psychiatric disorders having ‘graduated’ from adult mental health services.
Executive cognitive function of older people with HIV/AIDS
- Authors:
- KIM Suk-Hee, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 18(1), 2008, pp.48-63.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Executive cognitive function is concerned with the planning, initiation, sequencing and monitoring of complex goal-directed behaviour, and can be directly measured using instruments such as the Executive Clock Drawing Task (CLOX) which comprises CLOX 1 (drawing a clock face set to a specified time) and CLOX 2 (copying a clock face set to the same time). This study analyses CLOX results from a purposive sample of 275 people, including 91 receiving primary medical care for HIV AIDS at eight clinics in a US metropolitan area, with the aim of identifying whether there was a significant difference in scores between those with and without HIV AIDS. This was not the case. The most significant factors associated with executive cognitive impairment were age (over 50) and gender (male).