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The Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire: Mokken Scaling Analysis

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Listed:
  • Susan D Shenkin
  • Roger Watson
  • Ken Laidlaw
  • John M Starr
  • Ian J Deary

Abstract

Background: Hierarchical scales are useful in understanding the structure of underlying latent traits in many questionnaires. The Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire (AAQ) explored the attitudes to ageing of older people themselves, and originally described three distinct subscales: (1) Psychosocial Loss (2) Physical Change and (3) Psychological Growth. This study aimed to use Mokken analysis, a method of Item Response Theory, to test for hierarchies within the AAQ and to explore how these relate to underlying latent traits. Methods: Participants in a longitudinal cohort study, the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, completed a cross-sectional postal survey. Data from 802 participants were analysed using Mokken Scaling analysis. These results were compared with factor analysis using exploratory structural equation modelling. Results: Participants were 51.6% male, mean age 74.0 years (SD 0.28). Three scales were identified from 18 of the 24 items: two weak Mokken scales and one moderate Mokken scale. (1) ‘Vitality’ contained a combination of items from all three previously determined factors of the AAQ, with a hierarchy from physical to psychosocial; (2) ‘Legacy’ contained items exclusively from the Psychological Growth scale, with a hierarchy from individual contributions to passing things on; (3) ‘Exclusion’ contained items from the Psychosocial Loss scale, with a hierarchy from general to specific instances. All of the scales were reliable and statistically significant with ‘Legacy’ showing invariant item ordering. The scales correlate as expected with personality, anxiety and depression. Exploratory SEM mostly confirmed the original factor structure. Conclusions: The concurrent use of factor analysis and Mokken scaling provides additional information about the AAQ. The previously-described factor structure is mostly confirmed. Mokken scaling identifies a new factor relating to vitality, and a hierarchy of responses within three separate scales, referring to vitality, legacy and exclusion. This shows what older people themselves consider important regarding their own ageing.

Suggested Citation

  • Susan D Shenkin & Roger Watson & Ken Laidlaw & John M Starr & Ian J Deary, 2014. "The Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire: Mokken Scaling Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(6), pages 1-11, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0099100
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099100
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Roger Watson & L Andries van der Ark & Li‐Chan Lin & Robert Fieo & Ian J Deary & Rob R Meijer, 2012. "Item response theory: How Mokken scaling can be used in clinical practice," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 21(19pt20), pages 2736-2746, October.
    4. Manfred K. Diehl & Hans-Werner Wahl, 2010. "Awareness of Age-Related Change: Examination of a (Mostly) Unexplored Concept," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 65(3), pages 340-350.
    5. Becca R. Levy, 2003. "Mind Matters: Cognitive and Physical Effects of Aging Self-Stereotypes," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 58(4), pages 203-211.
    6. Susanne Scheibe & Laura L. Carstensen, 2010. "Emotional Aging: Recent Findings and Future Trends," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 65(2), pages 135-144.
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