A Validation of the Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (B APQ) Among Elderly Portuguese Adults
Portugal is one of the oldest countries in the European Union, and, as a result, it is important to possess measurement instruments that can assess the aging self perceptions of older Portuguese adults. The primary aim of this study was to translate and validate the B APQ for use among the elderly Portuguese population. Complementarily, the second part of this study sought to assess differences in aging perceptions among participants based upon sex and sexual orientation. Using a website, older adults between the ages of 50 and 95 (N=722) completed a Portuguese version of the B APQ, alongside a scale used to measure depression (the CES D) This study employed Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to verify the multidimensionality of the B APQ. We analysed the correlation between the B APQ and the CES D to assess convergent and discriminant validity. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were used to measure internal consistency, and a sensitivity analysis of the items was employed through measures of asymmetry and flatness. This study also assessed differences in aging perceptions in relation to sex and sexual orientation. The CFA indicated that the 5 factors of the Portuguese version of the B APQ model were adequate. The results also showed that all factors of the B APQ were associated with the CES D, supporting the existence of convergent and discriminant validity. The Cronbach's alphas were acceptable for all factors, indicating that internal consistency was preserved and that sensitivity presented adequate scores for all items. Regarding sex, statistically significant differences were obtained for depression levels (women present greater depressive symptomatology than men) but no differences were found for all factors of the B APQ. The results obtained also showed significant differences for