Validation of the Generative Acts Scale-Chinese Version (GAS-C) among Middle-Aged and Older Adults as Grandparents in Mainland China.

Haoyi Guo,Steven Sek-Yum Ngai

doi:10.3390/ijerph18199950

Abstract

The current study examined the psychometric properties of the 20-item Generative Acts Scale-Chinese version (GAS-C) among middle-aged and older adults as grandparents in mainland China. A total of 1013 grandparents (mean age = 58.32 years; 71.9% female) of children from 12 kindergartens were recruited using multistage cluster random sampling. A four-factor pattern of domestic, agentic, communal, and civic generative acts were identified by exploratory factor analysis and further verified by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Subsequently, multigroup CFA was performed to test the measurement invariance across gender, age group and hukou status at the configural, metric, and scalar levels. The Cronbach’s alpha value of the total (0.923) and subscales (range from 0.897 to 0.953) was satisfactory, indicating high internal consistency. Additionally, the significant gender differences in the domestic (male = 3.565, female = 3.718, p < 0.05), communal (male = 2.786, female = 2.591, p < 0.01), and civic subscales (male = 2.112, female = 1.864, p < 0.001) and the significant correlations between the GAS-C total scale and subscales with caregiving intensity (r = 0.433, p < 0.01), positive affect (r = 0.397, p < 0.01) and life satisfaction (r = 0.328, p < 0.01), supported concurrent validity. Overall, this study addressed the knowledge gap by validating a reliable and valid instrument to measure grandparents’ generative acts in mainland China, contributing to generativity studies cross-culturally in research and practice.

Highlights

First introduced by Erikson [1], generativity is concerned with establishing, nurturing and contributing to the younger generations, through actions such as childrearing, teaching, mentoring, volunteering, and community activities [2,3,4]
This study addressed the knowledge gap by validating a reliable and valid instrument to measure grandparents’ generative acts in mainland China, contributing to generativity studies cross-culturally in research and practice
Originally applied to mid-life adults, the concept of generativity has extended to older adults who are increasingly involved as grandparent caregivers worldwide [5]

Summary

Introduction

First introduced by Erikson [1], generativity is concerned with establishing, nurturing and contributing to the younger generations, through actions such as childrearing, teaching, mentoring, volunteering, and community activities [2,3,4]. Originally applied to mid-life adults, the concept of generativity has extended to older adults who are increasingly involved as grandparent caregivers worldwide [5] Caregiving to grandchildren has been viewed as an expression of generativity in later life that tends to yield tremendous health benefits to grandparent caregivers [6]. Influenced by traditional Confucianism that prescribes intergenerational ties, generative acts such as grandparent caregiving are prevalent in the mainland. Generativity studies among Chinese grandparents are rare. Lacking a reliable scale of generative acts with adequate psychometric properties in the mainland China context, could be one of the major reasons. To address the measurement gap, it has become essential to validate the Chinese version of the Generative Acts Scale with a sample of Chinese grandparents in the mainland

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion