title: Construction and validation of the Reminiscence Functions Scale.
abstract: This research introduces the Reminiscence Functions Scale (RFS), a 43-item questionnaire that can be used to assess reminiscence functions over the lifecourse. Adults (710) ranging in age from 17 to 91 (mean age = 45.76 years) completed a 54-item Reminiscence Functions Scale-prototype measure, the results of which were submitted to a principal components analysis. Results indicated the viability of a 43-item, 7-factor solution with good reliability. Factors were labeled: Boredom Reduction, Death Preparation, Identity/Problem-Solving, Conversation, Intimacy Maintenance, Bitterness Revival, and Teach/Inform. A separate validity study demonstrated the predictive validity of the RFS. Directions for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Vancouver Community College, British Columbia.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires