Psychometric Properties of the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire—Short Form (AAQ-SF) in Sri Lanka

TL;DR

This study evaluates a questionnaire measuring attitudes toward aging in Sri Lanka, finding it useful for assessing quality of life in older adults.

Contribution

The study validates the AAQ-SF in a Sri Lankan context, supporting its use in assessing aging attitudes in Asia.

Findings

The AAQ-SF showed acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.71) and good construct validity in a three-factor model.

Positive aging attitudes were linked to higher quality of life among institutionalized older adults.

The questionnaire's psychological growth factor showed multidimensionality, suggesting room for refinement.

Abstract

Public health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue?
There is a gradual shift away from aging at home (aging in place), with more older adults considering alternative living arrangements in later life.It is increasingly important for researchers to equip policymakers and government agencies with the essential tools to allow them to optimize the living environment for older adults, and their quality of life.

There is a gradual shift away from aging at home (aging in place), with more older adults considering alternative living arrangements in later life.

It is increasingly important for researchers to equip policymakers and government agencies with the essential tools to allow them to optimize the living environment for older adults, and their quality of life.

Public health significance—Why is this work of significance to public health?
This study adds to research supporting the value of assessing attitudes to aging in adults in their 50s and those living in Asia.By examining the validity of this measure in a developing country, this manuscript contributes additional evidence for its usefulness and the value of the constructs it assesses.

This study adds to research supporting the value of assessing attitudes to aging in adults in their 50s and those living in Asia.

By examining the validity of this measure in a developing country, this manuscript contributes additional evidence for its usefulness and the value of the constructs it assesses.

Public health implications—What are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policymakers and/or researchers in public health?
Attitude to aging is a multifaceted construct and its assessment requires consideration of all the different aspects.Attitudes to aging are an important contributor to overall quality of life in older adults.

Attitude to aging is a multifaceted construct and its assessment requires consideration of all the different aspects.

Attitudes to aging are an important contributor to overall quality of life in older adults.

In Sri Lanka, despite cultural norms traditionally encouraging older adults to live with their families, a growing number now reside in homes for the elderly. Limited research has explored how attitudes toward aging affect these institutionalized older adults. This study examined the construct validity of the 12-item Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire—Short Form (AAQ-SF) and its association with quality of life among 317 residents of 13 retirement homes. The AAQ-SF showed acceptable internal consistency for the total scale (Cronbach’s α = 0.71), though subscale reliabilities were modest. Confirmatory factor analysis supported good construct validity for a three-factor model—χ2/df = 1.91, TLI = 0.94, CFI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.05—but the results suggested multidimensionality of the psychological growth factor. Positive attitudes toward aging were associated with greater quality of life, providing some evidence for convergent validity. The findings suggest that the AAQ-SF may be appropriate for assessing attitudes toward aging among older adults in Sri Lanka, though further validation is recommended.