Psychometric characteristics of the Adult Functional Adaptive Behavior Scale (AFABS)

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychometrics
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Assessing adaptive behavior is crucial for geriatric support services.
• Existing measures may not fully capture the nuances of functional abilities in older adults.
• The Adult Functional Adaptive Behavior Scale (AFABS) was developed to address this need.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Adult Functional Adaptive Behavior Scale (AFABS).
• To determine if AFABS measures a unified dimension of adaptive behavior.
• To assess the utility of AFABS in differentiating adaptive behavior deficits in elders.

Main Methods:

• Administered the AFABS to 432 individuals receiving geriatric support (inpatients and apartment dwellers).
• Conducted factor analysis to examine the underlying structure of the AFABS.
• Performed item analysis to assess internal consistency.
• Used supplementary analyses correlating AFABS scores with patient placement levels.

Main Results:

• Factor analysis confirmed that the AFABS assesses a single, unified underlying dimension.
• Item analysis demonstrated strong internal consistency for the AFABS.
• Supplementary analyses indicated that AFABS precisely measures adaptive behavior in elders with deficits.

Conclusions:

• The AFABS is a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring adaptive behavior in older adults.
• AFABS provides precise and reliable assessment for geriatric populations, particularly those with adaptive behavior deficits.
• The scale is suitable for use in various geriatric support settings.