Assessing competence: the European Survey on Aging Protocol (ESAP)

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Cross-Cultural Psychology
• Longitudinal Aging Studies

Background:

• The European Longitudinal Study of Aging (EXCELSA) aims to understand aging across diverse European populations.
• The European Survey on Ageing Protocol (ESAP) is a core assessment instrument for EXCELSA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To translate and culturally adapt the ESAP for use in 7 European countries.
• To present preliminary findings on the ESAP's psychometric properties and the determinants of competence in aging.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 672 individuals aged 30-85 (96 per country) from 7 European nations participated.
• Data were collected via 90-minute in-home interviews using a comprehensive protocol assessing various psychosocial, biophysical, and sociodemographic factors.
• Quota sampling ensured representation across age, gender, and education levels.

Main Results:

• 84% of ESAP measures demonstrated age-dependency, and 75% were sensitive to educational level.
• Minor variations were observed based on gender and rural/urban residence.
• Factor analysis identified 10 factors, including cognitive and physical competence, with a consistent model across countries and age groups (30-49 vs. 50+).

Conclusions:

• The adapted ESAP provides a valid cross-cultural assessment tool for aging research.
• Findings support a multifactorial model of competence, influenced by age, education, and other psychosocial and biophysical factors.
• The study contributes to understanding successful aging across diverse European contexts.