A Measure to Assess Elderly Brazilians’ Involvement in Pleasant Activities: Initial Evidence of Internal and External Validity

Abstract

The sense of pleasure that arises from engagement in activities is of fundamental importance for the well-being of older adults. In this study, we initiate the investigation of the psychometric properties of a Brazilian version of the California Older Person’s Pleasant Events Schedule (COPPES; the Brazilian version is the OPPES-BR), which measures the frequency of older people’s involvement in pleasant activities. The sample consisted of 337 community-dwelling older Brazilians, who completed the Beck Depression Inventory and OPPES-BR. Internal consistency of the “Frequency,” “Pleasure,” and “Obtained Pleasure” scales was excellent, indicating evidence of internal validity. Frequency and Obtained Pleasure were negatively correlated with depressive symptoms, indicating evidence of external validity. A confirmatory factor analysis showed that responses of the Brazilians do not form the same domains, compared to the original sample of Californians. Further studies to continue evaluating the psychometric properties of the OPPES-BR, such as exploring the domains that are pertinent to older Brazilians, are needed.