Reliability of a Scale for the Evaluation of Generativity Relative to Health (GeReH) in the Mexican Population in the Aging Process

Abstract

Generativity is a quality that allows the person to do something for others. In teaching, caring for grandchildren, or volunteering, the generative person contributes to the people around him and at the same time must maintain self-care for good health and functionality. In this sense, an individual in good health has the potential to contribute to the well-being of others. Likewise, with adequate self-esteem, the generative person can love himself, take care of himself and others; in this affective representation, satisfaction can be perceived from the recognition that others make of his transmission of experiences. The most used scales that measure generativity in the gerontological field are the Loyola Generativity Scale (LGS) and the Generative Behavior Control List (GBC). However, they do not recognize generative health-related behavior. The purpose of this study was to design a scale to assess generativity relative to health (GeReH) and analyze its psychometric properties in an aging population (45 years and over) in Mexico, considering its internal structure, reliability, and relationship with self-esteem. Method: A non-experimental cross-sectional study was carried out with a single group considering three stages: (i) design of the GeReH scale and (ii) psychometric properties of the GeReH scale, and (iii) the GeReH’s relationship with self-esteem. This type of instrument will allow identifying the profile of people willing to be independent and support their peers, considering the use of technological devices for community telecare, such as smartphones and personal computers, through the use of social networks such as “Facebook”, “WhatsApp”, and “Zoom” among others, is essential, especially since more and more older adults are users of these devices and virtual community social networks. The participants were 450 adults aged 45 years and over, of whom 296 women and 154 men; 235 people lived in rural areas and 215 people in urban areas. Inclusion criteria: independent in basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Exclusion criteria: cognitive alterations, no training or work history in health care. In the first stage, the GeReH design was carried out divided into three phases: i) elaboration of 258 items by a group of researchers in accordance with the proposed construct for the instrument, ii) focus group to know the meanings of adults regarding the items, iii) expert consultation for item analysis, which resulted in 90 items. In the second stage, the psychometric properties of the scale were analyzed, proceeding to the statistical analysis. Results: Bias, kurtosis, and total item correlation were analyzed, eliminating 17 items. KMO 0.904 values and Bartlett’s test of sphericity (X2 = 2717, gl = 190, p < 0.0001) were obtained. In the third stage, the correlation of the GeReH score with the Self-Esteem Inventory was determined. Orthogonal rotation (Oblimin) was used, obtaining a total explained variance of the generativity construct of 44.2% with a global Omega McDonald reliability coefficient of 0.887, which yielded five factors: F1 = Generative attitude; F2 = Satisfaction; F3 = Volunteering; F4 = Support Networks; F5 = Social support offered. In this sense, the design of a GeReH of 20 items with psychometric properties. Correspondingly, significant positive correlations were observed between the GeReH score and the Self-Esteem Inventory, especially in factor 2 relative to satisfaction. Conclusion: GeReH is an instrument with reliable psychometric properties that could be applied in populations with similar characteristics. In addition to considering the use of technological devices, for the optimal use of media and social networks, such as “Facebook”, “WhatsApp”, “E-mail”, and “Zoom”, among others.