Validation of the Life Satisfaction Index for the Third Age

Abstract

Objectives: Study the factor structure of Life Satisfaction Index for the third age, short form (LSITA-SF), its internal consistency,content validity, and to contrast its divergent validity. This index is proposed as a subjective indicator of successful aging Roy AdaptationModel, self concept mode. It is contrasted to a brief measurement of depression (CESD-7) that served as contextual stimuli in a major study. Materials and methods: The LSITA-SF scale and the (CESD-7) were applied to a non-probabilistic sample of 255 mexican volunteers from 60 to 100 years old. The content validity was evaluated by three experts. The internal consistency was calculated by the Cronbach’sAlpha coefficient, the factor analysis by Principal Component Analysis and Varimax rotation, the confirmatory factor analysis by MaximumLikelihood and the divergent validity by the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: The content validity was adequate. A three correlatedfactors model showed the best fit (X2 [41, N = 255] = 77.30, p = 0,001, GFI = 0,96, AGFI = 0,935, and RMSEA = 0,059), oneitem was deleted. Internal consistency was ( = 0,80). The correlation between LSITA-SF11 and CESD-7 was moderate (rs = -0,38); andbetween LSITA-11 and physical health measured by five items of SF-12 was (rs = 0,32). Conclusion: The 11-items LSITA scale showspreliminary good properties of reliability and validity in Mexican elderly people. We suggest its study for further validation in Mexico andother Spanish speaking countries.