Review of Positive Psychology Outcome Measures for Chronic Illness, Traumatic Brain Injury and Older Adults: Adaptability in Dementia?

Authors:

Stoner, C. R., Orrell, M., and Spector, A.

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Despite positive psychology being increasingly recognised as an important agent in well-being, there is a lack of standardised outcome measures for psychosocial dementia research. This review assessed positive psychology outcome measures using standardised criterion in populations that were identified as having shared characteristics. It aimed to identify robust measures that were suitable for potential adaption or use within a dementia population.

SUMMARY: The review identified 16 positive psychology outcome measures (and 8 further psychometric assessments of these) within the constructs of resilience, self-efficacy, religiousness/spirituality, life valuation, sense of coherence, autonomy, resourcefulness and a combined measure (CASP-19). Scale development studies were subject to a quality assessment, and most were found to be lacking information on reproducibility and responsiveness.

KEY MESSAGES: A wide range of measures within the constructs of positive psychology was identified as having potential utility for psychosocial research within a dementia population. Examples included the CD-RISC, GSWB, SWLS, MPAQ, RSOA and CASP-19. It is recommended that such scales are further adapted or validated for people with dementia. Underreporting of appropriate psychometric analyses hampered this review, and it is recommended that future authors endeavour to report such analyses.

DOI:

10.1159/000439044

URL:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26401914

Journal:

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord

issn:

1421-9824 (Electronic)

Publication year:

2015

pages:

340-57

Symptom status:

Cognitive/mental state
Emotional state

Age:

Seniors (65+)

Disease:

Codes for special purposes
Diseases of and symptoms related to the circulatory system
Diseases of and symptoms related to the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
Diseases of and symptoms related to the nervous system
Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
Neoplasms and related symptoms

PRO / non-PRO:

Patient Reported Outcome

Type of measurement instrument:

1 - Questionnaires

Instrument:

AtA - Attitude towards Aging Scale
BRCS - Brief Resilient Coping Scale
CASP-19 - Control, Autonomy, Selfrealization, Pleasure-19; Quality of Life Scale (versions: CASP-12)
CD-RISC - Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (versions: CD-RISC-10)
CRES - Care-Receiver Efficacy Scale
DSES - Daily Spiritual Experience Scale
FACIT-Sp - FACIT-Spiritual Wellbeing scale (versions: FACIT-Sp-12)
GSWS - Geriatric Spiritual Well-Being Scale
MPAQ- Maastricht Personal Autonomy Questionnaire
RSOA - Resourcefulness Scale for Older Adults
RS - Resilience Scale (versions: Shortened RS; BRS - Brief RS)
SIWB - Spirituality Index of Well-Being
SOC - Sense of Coherence Scale (versions: SOC-9; SOC-13; SOC-29; SOC-81)
SWLS - Satisfaction With Life Scale
VOL - Valuation Of Life Scale (also: VLS)