The American Journal of Health Education published the article colleagues and I wrote about the new Older Adult version of the Salutogenic Wellness Promotion Scale (SWPS-OA). Using the salutogenic framework, this scale as the young adult, adult and Arabic validated SWPS versions have done, focuses on health creation or potential measurement. These scales have shown to be effective for assessment, guidance, evaluation and promotion of health for participants and professionals. Here is the abstract. A link to the article is below the abstract:
The Salutogenic Wellness Promotion Scale for Older Adults
Abstract: Background: From 1990 to 2050, the population aged 60 years and older will rise from 9% to 21%. Healthy aging initiatives are vital to promote individual, community, and global well- being during this transformation. Accurate health measurement tools are needed to successfully guide strategies and plot progress. The validated multi-dimensional Salutogenic Wellness Promotion Scale (SWPS) measures health and has demonstrated that increased engagement in measured health-promoting behaviors relates to improved health, higher life satisfaction, and fewer problems. Methods: To extend existing work to the growing older adult population, an older adult version of the SWPS(-OA), a perceived health assessment, satisfaction with life survey (SWLS), and a depression scale (Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression, CES-D) were pilot tested with 6 groups (N 1⁄4 218) of older adults. Results: Data produced a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.933, significant positive correlations between the SWPS-OA and health (r 1⁄4 0.955, n 1⁄4 218, P , 000) and with life satisfaction (r 1⁄4 0.715, n 1⁄4 218, P , 000) and a significant negative correlation between SWPS-OA and depression (r 1⁄4 20.867, n 1⁄4 218, P , 000). Discussion: This pilot test suggests that the SWPS-OA holds promise as a psychometrically sound tool to assess, evaluate, and promote older adults’ health. Translation to Health Education Practice: Using the SWPS-OA to assess and evaluate lifestyles of older adults can help health professionals develop a plan to improve health and quality of life of older adults which research has shown also helps prevent and avoid problems such as chronic diseases.
Craig Becker
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Positive Health Leadership 