Modification and psychometric examination of a self-report measure of fear in older adults.

The primary purposes of the present study were to: (a) develop a measure of self-reported fear that includes fears that are content valid for older adults, (b) develop an instrument for assessing daily interference associated with fears, and (c) examine the psychometric properties of this new instrument. In the first of two studies, 109 participants, ages 60 through 91, completed a demographic questionnaire and answered an open-ended question about the types of fears they experience. These fears were then included on a modified version of the Fear Survey Schedule-II (Fear Survey Schedule-II for Older Adults (FSS-II-OA)) and administered in a second study. In Study 2, 114 participants (ages 60 through 88) completed a demographic questionnaire, FSS-II-OA, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), and answered questions regarding fear avoidance. Study 2 revealed high levels of internal consistency and test-retest reliability for total scores on the FSS-II-OA. Test-retest reliability estimates were mixed for individual fear intensity and daily interference items on the FSS-II-OA. Low-moderate to moderate correlations were found between the FSS-II-OA and BAI, BDI-II, and PSWQ.