A1 Journal article (refereed)
The Scales of Psychological Well-Being : a validation, usability and test-retest study among community-dwelling older people in Finland (2021)

Saajanaho, M., Kokko, K., Pynnönen, K., Tourunen, A., Törmäkangas, T., Portegijs, E., & Rantanen, T. (2021). The Scales of Psychological Well-Being : a validation, usability and test-retest study among community-dwelling older people in Finland. Aging and Mental Health, 25(5), 913-922. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1725801

JYU authors or editors

Saajanaho, Milla
Kokko, Katja
Pynnönen, Katja
Tourunen, Anu
Törmäkangas, Timo
Portegijs, Erja
Rantanen, Taina

Publication details

All authors or editors: Saajanaho, Milla; Kokko, Katja; Pynnönen, Katja; Tourunen, Anu; Törmäkangas, Timo; Portegijs, Erja; Rantanen, Taina

Journal or series: Aging and Mental Health

ISSN: 1360-7863

eISSN: 1364-6915

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 25

Issue number: 5

Pages range: 913-922

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1725801

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/68542

Abstract

Objectives: To validate the Finnish version of the 42-item Scales of Psychological Well-Being among community-dwelling older people. The study also examined the test–retest reliability and usability, i.e. user experience, of the scales in this age group.

Method: The 42-item version of the SPWB was administered as part of a face-to-face interview among 968 men and women aged 75, 80 or 85 years. The subsample for test–retest analyses comprised 42 participants, who in addition to 11 interviewers also answered questions concerning the usability of the scales. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, Pearson and intra-class correlation coefficients, and Kendal’s Tau B were used in the analyses.

Results: The factor analyses did not support the theory-based six-factor structure of the scales. The Cronbach’s alphas showed high internal consistency reliability for the total scale, but modest for the subscales. The intercorrelations between the subscales were moderate. The total score and the subscale scores of the SPWB correlated positively with quality of life and life satisfaction, and negatively with depressive symptoms. The interviewers reported that while most of the participants responded to the scales without marked difficulties, others could only answer after clarifications of some statements.

Discussion: The reliability of the 42-item version of the SPWB was modest. The factor structure was inconsistent among the three age groups studied, but the scales were feasible to use. The current results call for further methodological consideration to optimize assessment of eudaimonic well-being in old age.

Keywords: well-being; psychometrics; ageing

Free keywords: eudaimonic well-being; psychometrics; aging

Fields of science: