Allyson Brothers1, Martina Gabrian2, Hans-Werner Wahl2, Manfred Diehl1. 1. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 2. Department of Psychological Aging Research, Heidelberg University, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This two-study article describes the development and evaluation of a multidimensional questionnaire based on the subjective aging construct Awareness of Age-Related Change (AARC). AARC captures the inherent multidimensionality and complexity of aging attitudes, which are strongly linked to indicators of successful aging, including health and well-being. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In Study 1, we generated a large item pool related to subjective aging experiences and then evaluated the psychometric properties of a 189-item version of the AARC questionnaire in a sample of 396 adults aged 40-95 years. Based on findings from Study 1, we retained the best-performing items and arrived at a more parsimonious 50-item version (AARC-50). In Study 2, the psychometric properties of the 50-item version were examined in an expanded sample of 424 adults ages 40-98. RESULTS: Factor analyses in Study 1 indicated a two-factor structure of the questionnaire, representing the awareness of positive (AARC-Gains) and negative (AARC-Losses) age-related changes across five behavioral domains. Confirmatory factor analysis in Study 2 further supported this two-factor structure. In both studies, the AARC questionnaire demonstrated strong psychometric properties, including scale and item reliability, convergent and divergent validity, and predictive validity. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The availability of a reliable and valid assessment tool for measuring AARC-Gains and AARC-Losses allows researchers to capture detailed information about adults' positive and negative self-perceptions of aging across multiple behavioral domains, which are instrumental for promoting successful aging.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This two-study article describes the development and evaluation of a multidimensional questionnaire based on the subjective aging construct Awareness of Age-Related Change (AARC). AARC captures the inherent multidimensionality and complexity of aging attitudes, which are strongly linked to indicators of successful aging, including health and well-being. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In Study 1, we generated a large item pool related to subjective aging experiences and then evaluated the psychometric properties of a 189-item version of the AARC questionnaire in a sample of 396 adults aged 40-95 years. Based on findings from Study 1, we retained the best-performing items and arrived at a more parsimonious 50-item version (AARC-50). In Study 2, the psychometric properties of the 50-item version were examined in an expanded sample of 424 adults ages 40-98. RESULTS: Factor analyses in Study 1 indicated a two-factor structure of the questionnaire, representing the awareness of positive (AARC-Gains) and negative (AARC-Losses) age-related changes across five behavioral domains. Confirmatory factor analysis in Study 2 further supported this two-factor structure. In both studies, the AARC questionnaire demonstrated strong psychometric properties, including scale and item reliability, convergent and divergent validity, and predictive validity. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The availability of a reliable and valid assessment tool for measuring AARC-Gains and AARC-Losses allows researchers to capture detailed information about adults' positive and negative self-perceptions of aging across multiple behavioral domains, which are instrumental for promoting successful aging.
Authors: Manfred Diehl; Hans-Werner Wahl; Anne E Barrett; Allyson F Brothers; Martina Miche; Joann M Montepare; Gerben J Westerhof; Susanne Wurm Journal: Dev Rev Date: 2014-06-01
Authors: Serena Sabatini; Obioha C Ukoumunne; Clive Ballard; Allyson Brothers; Roman Kaspar; Rachel Collins; Sarang Kim; Anne Corbett; Dag Aarsland; Adam Hampshire; Helen Brooker; Linda Clare Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2020-09-21 Impact factor: 3.921