The SIC Scale of Ageism: Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Measurement Invariance, and Revisions

The present study seeks to confirm the factor structure of the succession, identity, and consumption (SIC) scale of prescriptive ageism as a modern measure of intergenerational ageism, with particular utility for institutionalized ageism and policy in health care, the workplace, and residential facilities. In addition, measurement invariance of the scale is tested for gender and racial/ethnic groups. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the scale as initially proposed, treating the items as categorical variables (see for treatment of Likert-type items as categorical). Modifications to the scale were explored using both theoretical and statistical criteria. Measurement invariance tests were run on both gender and racial/ethnic categories. Analyses indicated that the three-factor structure as initially proposed was validated in an undergraduate population. Minor modifications are proposed to improve the performance of the measure. Using comparative fit indices, measurement invariance was established for gender and racial/ethnic groups with mean level scale score differences discussed.