Feelings of Unsafety among Older People: Psychometric Properties of the EFU-scale. (2nd June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Donder, Liesbeth; De Witte, Nico; Dury, Sarah; Buffel, Tine; Brosens, Dorien; Smetcoren, An-Sofie; Verté, Emily; Van Regenmortel, Sofie; Verté, Dominique
• Is Part Of: Procedia--social and behavioral sciences. Volume 191(2015)
• Page Start: 1095
• Page End: 1101
• Publication Date: 2015-06-02
• Subjects: Fear of crime -- validity -- reliability -- elderly; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Congresses; Arts -- Periodicals; Arts -- Congresses; Humanities -- Periodicals; Humanities -- Congresses; 300
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.04.581
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1877-0428

Abstract

Abstract: Feelings of unsafety have negative consequences on social outcomes (decreased social participation and lifelong learning). Specifically a large number of older adults report distressing levels of feelings of unsafety. In order to develop intervention strategies we need accurate estimates of feelings of unsafety among older people using elder-friendly instruments. Although some measurement instruments exist, psychometric properties have not yet been adequately examined. This article describes the psychometric properties for the self-report 8-item 'Elders Feelings of Unsafety' (EFU) scale. Factor analyses on data from the Belgian Ageing Studies (N=39, 846) provide evidence of good reliability and validity of the EFU-scale. Next, multiple group analyses indicate full configural, full metric and partial scalar invariance. The scale model does not vary across age groups.