Psychometric properties of the Kogan Attitudes toward Older People Scale: evidence from a German general-population survey

Abstract

Introduction The Kogan Attitudes toward Older People Scale (KAOP) has been translated and validated in numerous languages, although a German version does not yet exist. The present study aimed to translate, adapt, and psychometrically evaluate the KAOP for German-speaking populations. Methods A convenience sample of 419 participants completed the 34-item German KAOP Scale (KAOP-D-34), 211 of whom took part in the retest after four weeks. Reliability was assessed using internal consistency, item analysis, and test–retest reliability. Structural validity was explored using principal component analysis (PCA), and construct validity was tested using the known-groups method. Convergent validity was assessed utilizing the Aging Semantic Differential (ASD), Age Stereotypes (AS), and Future Selves (FS). Results The KAOP-D-34 demonstrated good internal consistency ( α = 0.870, ω = 0.863) and good test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.846, 95% CI: 0.802; 0.880). Items 7 and 8 were excluded due to poor content validity, increasing the reliability of the final 32-item scale (α = 0.876, ω = 0.867). PCA revealed a two-factor solution accounting for 30% of the total variance. Known-groups analyses showed significant differences in KAOP-D-32 scores according to gender, age group, educational level, and self-reported attitudes toward older adults. The final KAOP-D-32 total scores showed a significant correlation with the ASD ( r = −0.40). Most AS and FS domains correlated significantly with KAOP-D32, except finances. Furthermore, higher KAOP-D-32 scores were associated with older age, better self-rated health, and greater life satisfaction. Conclusion These results support that the KAOP-D-32 is a psychometrically robust instrument for assessing attitudes toward older adults.

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