Analyzing the Trait of Routinization in Older Adults

Abstract

This article reports on the development and validation of a scale designed to assess a postulated psychological trait in older adults--routinization. Some older adults are thought to be motivated to maintain the daily events of their lives in relatively unchanging and orderly patterns of regularity. Those older adults may resist change, rejecting attempts to alter patterns of daily living, and experience distress at events that require change. This trait of routinization was explored with a 20-item self-report scale. Factor analysis revealed two underlying factors: 1) Having Order and Routine in daily living, and 2) Disliking Disruption. Relationship of the instrument to other standard personality instruments was assessed; it was found that the instrument was only modestly related to other scales. Validity of the scale was tested by relating it to the frequency of occurrence of desirable and undesirable small, everyday events. Also, its relationship to two factors of mental health reported by participants in a multisession experimental intervention to increase personal control and mastery was assessed. Evidence for validity of the scale in both sets of tests was found. Further exploration of the properties of the trait measure appears warranted.

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