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The attitudes to ageing questionnaire (AAQ): development and psychometric properties
Author(s) -
Laidlaw K.,
Power M. J.,
Schmidt S.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.1683
Subject(s) - psychosocial , scale (ratio) , psychology , psychological intervention , ageing , psychometrics , gerontology , test (biology) , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Objective This paper describes the development of the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire (AAQ) which is a self‐report measure with which older people themselves can express their attitudes to the process of ageing. Method The development of the AAQ followed a coherent, logical and empirical process taking full account of relevant gerontological knowledge and modern and classical psychometric analytical methods. Pilot testing with 1,356 participants from 15 centres worldwide refined the scale and provided the basis for a field test. A total of 5,566 participants from 20 centres worldwide contributed to the further development of this new scale with the derivation involving both classical and modern psychometric methods. Results The result is a 24‐item cross‐cultural attitudes to ageing questionnaire consisting of a three‐factor model encompassing psychological growth, psychosocial loss, and physical change. The three‐factor model suggests a way of conceptualizing and measuring successful ageing in individuals. Conclusions The AAQ provides researchers, clinicians and policy makers with a unique scale to measure the impact of successful ageing interventions. It also provides a vehicle for the measurement of how individuals age across cultures and under different economic, political and social circumstances. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.