Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Anxiety Control Questionnaire Among Older Adults

Abstract

Among young adults and clinical populations, perceived inability to control internal and external events is associated with anxiety. At present, it is unclear what role perceived anxiety control plays in anxiety among older adults. The Anxiety Control Questionnaire (ACQ) was developed to assess one's perceived ability to cope with anxiety-related symptoms, reactions, and external threats but has limited psychometric support for use with older adults. Psychometric evaluations of other measures often reveal that factor structures differ among older adults compared with other age groups. The present study examined the factor structure of the ACQ in a sample of community-dwelling older adults in an attempt to understand the construct of perceived anxiety control in this population. A total of 135 adults aged 60 to 94 completed the ACQ and a demographics questionnaire. An exploratory factor analysis was accomplished using maximum likelihood extraction with equamax rotation. Parallel analysis indicated that a four-factor structure be retained. The four-factor solution explained 40.80% of variance and provided a good fit to the data. The four factors were Internal Control, External Lack of Control, Internal Lack of Control, and Effective Coping. Each factor contained an adequate number of items and had good internal consistency. The four-factor solution suggests that a previous recommendation to shorten the ACQ, based on factor analysis with young adults, may be imprudent for older adults. The authors also discuss implications for the understanding of perceived anxiety control among older adults and assessment of anxiety in older adults.

Combining Parallel and Exploratory Factor Analysis in Identifying Relationship Scales in Secondary Data

“…The analysis process consisted of an iterative process whereby a parallel analysis (Horn, 1965) was performed to identify the number of factors to extract, based on the number of questions in the analysis, followed by a maximum likelihood extraction factor analysis with oblique rotation (see Gerolimatos et al 2012, for an example in the psychological field of parallel analysis leading to a subsequent factor analysis).…”

Internal Structure and Clinical Utility of the Anxiety Control Questionnaire-Revised (ACQ-R) Spanish Version

“…Shujuan, Meihua, and Jianxin (2009), analyzing data from 212 senior high school Chinese students ( M age = 15.8 years) with CFA, concluded that the ACQ is organized in three factors: one substantive factor and two method factors associated with the positively and negatively worded items, respectively. Finally, in a more recent study, Gerolimatos, Gould, and Edelstein (2012) evaluated the internal structure of the ACQ in 135 older adults, M age = 72.7 years. Conducting an EFA (maximum likelihood extraction with equamax rotation –orthogonal– and parallel analysis as criterion to determine the number of factors to be retained), they extracted four factors: External Lack of Control , Internal Control , Internal Lack of Control , and Effective Coping .…”

“…Notes: P1 = Model proposed by Rapee et al (1996); P2 = Model proposed by Brown et al (2004); P3 = Model proposed by Shujuan et al (2009; only considering the substantive factor); P4 = Model proposed by Gerolimatos et al (2012). *indicates a reverse worded items.…”

Psychometric Evaluation of Dietary Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectation Scales in Female College Freshmen

“…Aging can lead to alterations in physiological processing of stimuli and resultant emotional activation, as well as changes in emotional regulation strategies (Gerolimatos et al, 2012). This may extend to dietary behaviors, as adolescence is associated with less reliance on cognitive strategies to regulate eating.…”