The Possibilities for Activity Scale (PActS): Development, validity, and reliability

Laliberte Rudman proposed the concept of occupational possibilities to represent what older adults feel they "should be" and "could be" doing.

This study aimed to develop and validate a measure of perceived occupational possibilities: the Possibilities for Activity Scale (PActS).

Two factors of the PActS, activity expectations and activity self-efficacy, were operationalized in a 14-item instrument. The instrument was then evaluated with a sample of older adults diagnosed with cancer (n = 179).

The PActS demonstrated promising internal consistency reliability (stratified coefficient α = .77) and construct-related (r = .58; p < .0001), structural (chi-square = 61.57; CFI = .97; RMSEA = .05; TLI = .96; NFL = .91) and known-groups validity.

The PActS appears to be a useful measure of internalized occupational possibilities for participation in activity for older adults with cancer. This scale can enhance the measurement of participation in activity by evaluating the perceptions of occupational possibilities.