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European Journal of Ageing

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Open Access 09.10.2019 | Original Investigation

The uniqueness of subjective ageing: convergent and discriminant validity

verfasst von: Svenja M. Spuling, Verena Klusmann, Catherine E. Bowen, Anna E. Kornadt, Eva-Marie Kessler

Erschienen in: European Journal of Ageing | Ausgabe 4/2020

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Abstract

Although a large body of research has demonstrated the predictive power of subjective ageing for several decisive developmental outcomes, there remains some controversy about whether subjective ageing truly represents a unique construct. Thus, information about the convergent and discriminant validity of different approaches to measuring subjective ageing is still critically needed. Using data from the 2014 wave of the German Ageing Survey, we examined how three established subjective ageing measures (subjective age, global attitude toward own ageing, multidimensional ageing-related cognitions) were inter-related as well as distinct from general dispositions (optimism, self-efficacy) and well-being (negative affect, depressive symptoms, self-rated health). Using correlational and multivariate regression analysis, we found that the three subjective ageing measures were significantly inter-related (r = |.09| to |.30|), and that each measure was distinct from general dispositions and well-being. The overlap with dispositional and well-being measures was lowest for subjective age and highest for global attitudes towards own ageing. The correlation between global attitudes towards own ageing and optimism was particularly striking. Despite the high convergent validity of the different dimensions of ageing cognitions, we nevertheless observed stronger associations between specific dimensions of ageing cognitions with negative affect and self-rated health. We conclude that researchers should be aware of the multidimensional nature of subjective ageing. Furthermore, subjective age appears to be a highly aggregated construct and future work is needed to clarify its correlates and reference points.

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We thank an anonymous reviewer for this suggestion.

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Titel: The uniqueness of subjective ageing: convergent and discriminant validity
verfasst von: Svenja M. Spuling
Verena Klusmann
Catherine E. Bowen
Anna E. Kornadt
Eva-Marie Kessler
Publikationsdatum: 09.10.2019
Verlag: Springer Netherlands
Erschienen in: European Journal of Ageing / Ausgabe 4/2020
Print ISSN: 1613-9372
Elektronische ISSN: 1613-9380
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-019-00529-7

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