Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Nishitokyo 202-0021, Japan.
Division of Arts and Sciences, International Christian University, Mitaka 181-8585, Japan.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 19;19(20):13509. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013509.
Health-related expectations regarding aging is a gerontological construct that is potentially predictive of morbidity and mortality in later life. The Expectations Regarding Ageing scale (ERA-12) is a widely used measure of health-related expectations, although it has not previously been administered in Japanese. The present research aimed to elucidate the psychometric properties of the first Japanese translation of the ERA-12 and evaluate health-related expectations among middle-aged and older Japanese.
Repeated online surveys were conducted with representative quota samples of middle-aged and older adults in Tokyo during 2021 ( = 1600). Primary outcome measures included total and subscale scores on a Japanese translation of the ERA-12 (ERA-12-J) addressing perceptions of physical, mental, and cognitive health. Standard measures were also used to gather information regarding respondent demographic details, general health, and health-related behavior.
The ERA-12-J and associated subscales showed acceptable test-retest reliability ((1598) = 0.60, = 0.63), internal consistency (α > 0.80), inter-item correlation ( = 0.21-0.78) and item-total correlation ( = 0.53-0.73). Confirmatory Factor Analysis verified the hypothesized three-factor structure and construct validity on four common indices of fit (GFI = 0.968; CFI = 0.978; AGFI = 0.950; RMSEA = 0.059). ERA-12-J scores among Japanese respondents revealed prevailing negative sentiments concerning physical and cognitive health, with less negative sentiment regarding mental health. Significant and independent differences emerged concerning gender and age cohort, with middle-aged adults and females holding more negative expectations about their future health.
The ERA-12-J provides a sound basis for the elucidation of health-related expectations about aging in Japan and a useful tool for international comparative studies. Education and workplace intervention may be required in Japan to address age and gender disparities in health-related expectations.
与衰老相关的健康期望是一个老年学概念，它可能预示着晚年的发病率和死亡率。期望衰老量表（ERA-12）是衡量与健康相关的期望的常用量表，尽管它以前并未在日本使用过。本研究旨在阐明首次对日本版 ERA-12（ERA-12-J）进行的心理测量学评估，并评估日本中年和老年人的与健康相关的期望。
2021 年，在东京对中年和老年人进行了代表性配额在线调查（=1600）。主要结局指标包括对身体、心理和认知健康感知的日本版 ERA-12（ERA-12-J）的总分和子量表得分。还使用了标准措施来收集有关受访者人口统计学细节、一般健康和与健康相关行为的信息。
ERA-12-J 及其相关子量表表现出可接受的重测信度（（1598）=0.60，=0.63）、内部一致性（α>0.80）、项目间相关性（=0.21-0.78）和项目总分相关性（=0.53-0.73）。验证性因素分析验证了假设的三因素结构和四个常见拟合指数上的构念效度（GFI=0.968；CFI=0.978；AGFI=0.950；RMSEA=0.059）。日本受访者的 ERA-12-J 评分显示，他们对身体和认知健康持普遍负面情绪，对心理健康的负面情绪较少。在性别和年龄群体方面存在显著且独立的差异，中年人和女性对未来健康的期望更为负面。
ERA-12-J 为阐明日本对衰老的健康期望提供了坚实的基础，也是国际比较研究的有用工具。日本可能需要开展教育和工作场所干预，以解决与健康相关的期望方面的年龄和性别差异。
