Evaluating and applying the Multidimensional Fatalism Scale for aging and well-being research

Fatalism has not been well studied in aging research, and its validated measures remain scarce. The Multidimensional Fatalism Scale (MFS) indicated promising psychometric properties, but it was originally developed and validated using a college student sample. The present study aimed to validate the MFS for older adults and examined associations of multiple fatalism dimensions with health and well-being.

We analyzed data from 476 participants aged 65+ (whose mean age was 70.0 [SD = 4.4], female 62%) recruited through an online crowdsourcing platform, Prolific. We evaluated the MFS in dimensionality (conducting confirmatory factor analysis), internal consistency reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity. Additionally, we conducted multiple regressions examining associations of fatalism dimensions with depression, physical functioning, or purpose in life, controlling for covariates.

For our older adult sample, the MFS had psychometric properties comparable to the original validation, though its dimensionality was not optimal. The regression analyses showed associations of stronger beliefs in ineluctable destiny (i.e., fate) and lower helplessness with lower depression; of stronger beliefs in luck with better physical functioning; of lower helplessness, higher internal locus of control, and weaker beliefs in luck with higher purpose in life.

Our validation of the MFS was inconclusive, calling for more thorough investigations of this potentially useful measure in aging research. Our findings also showed positive implications of some fatalistic beliefs (e.g., ineluctable destiny), suggesting future research to address the complexity of fatalism relating to health and well-being for older adults.