Luca Kleineidam1,2, Myriam V Thoma3,4, Andreas Maercker3,4, Horst Bickel5, Edelgard Mösch5, André Hajek6, Hans-Helmut König6, Marion Eisele7, Tina Mallon7, Tobias Luck8,9, Susanne Röhr8, Siegfried Weyerer10, Jochen Werle10, Michael Pentzek11, Angela Fuchs11, Birgitt Wiese12, Silke Mamone12, Martin Scherer7, Wolfgang Maier1,2, Steffi G Riedel-Heller8, Michael Wagner1,2. 1. Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Germany. 2. DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany. 3. Division of Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland. 4. University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Switzerland. 5. Department of Psychiatry, Technical University of Munich, Germany. 6. Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. 7. Department of Primary Medical Care, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center, Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. 8. Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, Germany. 9. Department of Economic and Social Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Nordhausen, Germany. 10. Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Germany. 11. Institute of General Practice, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany. 12. WG Medical Statistics and IT-Infrastructure, Institute of General Practice, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We examined the validity of 5 successful aging (SA) operationalizations that assessed different facets of the SA construct (cognitive and physical health and disability; well-being; social engagement). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 2,478 participants (mean age = 82.5 years, standard deviation [SD] = 3.47) were studied. We used confirmatory factor analysis to investigate the relationships between facets and to determine the convergent validity as well as short-term (1.5 years) and long-term (4.5 years) predictive validity of the 5 SA operationalizations for measures of quality of life (QoL) and objective health outcomes. RESULTS: A general SA operationalization that included all SA facets but also allowed differences between them showed the best model fit and construct validity. A biomedical operationalization of SA that excluded either the well-being or the social engagement facet showed lower convergent and predictive validity for subjective measures (e.g., QoL) but higher associations with objective measures (e.g., health). A purely psychosocial SA operationalization that excluded the physiological facet did not allow good prediction of objective health outcomes. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results suggest that a well-balanced SA operationalization should include measures assessing health, disability, well-being, and social engagement.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We examined the validity of 5 successful aging (SA) operationalizations that assessed different facets of the SA construct (cognitive and physical health and disability; well-being; social engagement). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 2,478 participants (mean age = 82.5 years, standard deviation [SD] = 3.47) were studied. We used confirmatory factor analysis to investigate the relationships between facets and to determine the convergent validity as well as short-term (1.5 years) and long-term (4.5 years) predictive validity of the 5 SA operationalizations for measures of quality of life (QoL) and objective health outcomes. RESULTS: A general SA operationalization that included all SA facets but also allowed differences between them showed the best model fit and construct validity. A biomedical operationalization of SA that excluded either the well-being or the social engagement facet showed lower convergent and predictive validity for subjective measures (e.g., QoL) but higher associations with objective measures (e.g., health). A purely psychosocial SA operationalization that excluded the physiological facet did not allow good prediction of objective health outcomes. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results suggest that a well-balanced SA operationalization should include measures assessing health, disability, well-being, and social engagement.
Authors: Charlotta Nilsen; Alexander Darin-Mattsson; Martin Hyde; Jonas W Wastesson Journal: Scand J Public Health Date: 2021-05-25 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Hui Foh Foong; Sook Yee Lim; Roshanim Koris; Sharifah Azizah Haron Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-04-22 Impact factor: 3.390