Abstract

Loneliness is a public health problem. Its assessment is important to identify older adults who experience greater loneliness and appropriate interventions can be carried out. The De Jong Gierveld Solitude Scale (DJGLS) is one of the most widely used, at least in the European context, to measure loneliness. Although the Spanish version of the DJGLS has shown reliability and validity in Spanish samples of older adults, there is no evidence of adequacy in the Latin American context. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the DJGLS in Peruvian older adults. Specifically, factorial validity, internal consistency and criterion-related validity were studied, based on a double analytical perspective: Classical Test Theory (SEM models) and Item Response Theory. The participants were 235 Peruvian older adults with ages ranging from 61 to 91 years old (Mean = 72.69, SD = 6.68) that assisted to Centers for the Elderly in the city of Trujillo, Peru. Together with the DJGLS, information from the three-item UCLA loneliness scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Brief Resilient Coping Scale and the Patient Health Questionnarie-2 was also gathered. The results support a one-dimensional structure of the DJGLS but with the presence of method effects associated to the negatively worded items. Additionally, the IRT multidimensional model applied also indicated the presence of a second dimension related to these negative items. Finally, other evidences of reliability and validity were adequate. In summary, the DJGLS may be considered a reliable and valid instrument to be used in the Peruvian (older adults) context.

摘要

孤独是一个公共卫生问题。它的评估对于识别孤独感更大的老年人很重要，并且可以进行适当的干预。De Jong Gierveld Solitude Scale (DJGLS) 是最广泛使用的衡量孤独感的量表之一，至少在欧洲是这样。尽管西班牙语版本的 DJGLS 在西班牙老年人样本中显示了可靠性和有效性，但没有证据表明在拉丁美洲背景下是充分的。因此，本研究旨在评估秘鲁老年人 DJGLS 的心理测量特性。具体而言，基于双重分析视角：经典测试理论（SEM 模型）和项目反应理论，研究了因子效度、内部一致性和标准相关效度。参与者是 235 名秘鲁老年人，年龄从 61 岁到 91 岁不等（平均值 = 72.69，SD = 6.68），他们协助秘鲁特鲁希略市的老年人中心。与 DJGLS 一起，还收集了来自三项 UCLA 孤独量表、生活满意度量表、简要弹性应对量表和患者健康问卷-2 的信息。结果支持 DJGLS 的一维结构，但存在与负面措辞项目相关的方法效应。此外，应用的 IRT 多维模型还表明存在与这些负面项目相关的第二个维度。最后，信度和效度的其他证据是充分的。总之，DJGLS 可能被认为是一种可靠且有效的工具，可用于秘鲁（老年人）环境。