title: Attachment to Life: Psychometric Analyses of the Valuation of Life Scale and Differences Among Older Adults.
abstract: Examine psychometric properties of Lawton's Valuation of Life (VOL) scale, a measure of an older adults' assessment of the perceived value of their lives; and whether ratings differ by race (White, Black/African American) and sex.
  
  
  
  The 13-item VOL scale was administered at baseline in 2 separate randomized trials (Advancing Better Living for Elders, ABLE; Get Busy Get Better, GBGB) for a total of 527 older adults. Principal component analyses were applied to a subset of ABLE data (subsample 1) and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on remaining data (subsample 2 and GBGB). Once the factor structure was identified and confirmed, 2 subscales were created, corresponding to optimism and engagement. Convergent validity of total and subscale scores were examined using measures of depressive symptoms, social support, control-oriented strategies, mastery, and behavioral activation. For discriminant validity, indices of health status, physical function, financial strain, cognitive status, and number of falls were examined.
  
  
  
  Trial samples (ABLE vs. GBGB) differed by age, race, marital status, education, and employment. Principal component analysis on ABLE subsample 1 (n = 156) yielded two factors subsequently confirmed in confirmatory factor analyses on ABLE subsample 2 (n = 163) and GBGB sample (N = 208) separately. Adequate fit was found for the 2-factor model. Correlational analyses supported strong convergent and discriminant validity. Some statistically significant race and sex differences in subscale scores were found.
  
  
  
  VOL measures subjective appraisals of perceived value of life. Consisting of two interrelated subscales, it offers an efficient approach to ascertain personal attributions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Innovative Care in Aging, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. lgitlin1@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: Laura N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Gitlin
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Principal Faculty, Center for Innovative Care in Aging, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Jeanine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Center on Aging and Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Villanova University, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Laraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Center on Aging and Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D026712:Value of Life
keywords: Affective well-being; Biographical management; Quality of life