Abstract
BackgroundSeveral studies have shown the influence of the perceptions of aging on the cognitive functioning and the mental and physical health of older people. These relationships have not to date been studied in France where validated instruments are lacking. The primary objective of this study was to validate a French-language version of the Aging Perceptions Questionnaire (APQ) in the French general population aged 65 and over. The secondary objective was to study the stability of the dimensions of this instrument among participants aged 55 to 64.MethodsThe study was proposed to the cohort of the Observatoire Régional du Vieillissement (OPREVI) (observatory of aging), located in a small town in Poitou-Charentes (western France). An anonymous questionnaire including the APQ was sent by mail to inhabitants aged 55 and over. The original English language APQ was described with adults aged 65 and older. It has 32 items distributed on 7 dimensions: timeline chronic and cyclical, positive and negative consequences, positive and negative control and emotional representations.Results656 adults participated in this survey (286 men, 370 women). Among those aged 65 and over (n = 394), the seven-factor structure estimated by confirmatory factor analysis was coherent with original findings. Internal consistency as evaluated by Cronbach alpha, was between 0.83 for consequences negative and 0.52 for control negative. Several dimensions were strongly correlated. Among participants aged 55 to 64 (n = 262), the same factorial model yielded an acceptable fit. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis concluded to approximate factorial invariance between the two age groups with a null delta in comparative fit index.ConclusionThis study among French people aged 65 and over, added further evidence of the multidimensional structure of the French version of the APQ which is superimposed to the dimensions of the original Irish version. The same factorial structure applies acceptably to the younger group (aged 55–64). The OPREVI study is ongoing, and will collect data on the physical, material and social characteristics of participants. It will therefore be possible to analyse the variables associated with the perceptions of aging. On the basis of an individual's perceptions of aging as captured by this questionnaire, and his or her clinical profile, tailored multi-dimensional assistance could be made available aiming to provide incentives to anticipate or to adapt to difficulties.
Highlights
Several studies have shown the influence of the perceptions of aging on the cognitive functioning and the mental and physical health of older people
The Aging Perceptions Questionnaire (APQ) was included in this first dispatch
The validation of the French version of the APQ was conducted in a population aged 65 and over, and its psychometric properties were studied in a younger group of respondents aged 55 to 64
Summary
Several studies have shown the influence of the perceptions of aging on the cognitive functioning and the mental and physical health of older people These relationships have not to date been studied in France where validated instruments are lacking. The APQ (Aging Perceptions Questionnaire) is a recently developed multi-dimensional scale [10] with 7 dimensions which explores the respondent's views about aging on the basis of Leventhal's self-regulation model [11]. This model helps to examine the self-regulation of experience of health through a series of dimensions. As aging is not a health threat but a normal stage, it appeared useful to study self-adaptation in the context of aging
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