The Social Vulnerability Scale for Older Adults: An Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analytic Study.
The Social Vulnerability Scale (SVS), a 22-item informant report of vulnerability to exploitation and, in particular, financial exploitation of older adults, was administered to 266 respondents who assessed the social vulnerability of a significant other aged 50 years or over, either a person with dementia or other neurological condition (n = 116), or a healthy adult (n = 150). Exploratory factor analysis in the combined sample revealed a 15-item two-factor solution labeled gullibility and credulity. Stability in factor structure was established in an independent sample (n = 123) using confirmatory factor analysis, and sound reliability (internal consistency) and validity (known-groups) were demonstrated. The SVS15 is a potentially useful instrument for assessing older adults' vulnerability to exploitation.
a Department of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology , The Prince Charles Hospital , Brisbane , Queensland , Australia.
Donna M
DM
Pinsker
b School of Psychology , The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Queensland , Australia.
Ken
K
McFarland
c Answers About Competency, LLC , Golden , Colorado , USA.
Valerie E
VE
Stone
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia; D004552:Elder Abuse; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
aging; cognitive functioning; dementia; financial exploitation; memory; neuropsychology; social vulnerability