Validation of the Spanish version of the Perceived Control Scale: Perceived Constraints on Personal Control and Perceived Mastery

Abstract

Objectives

Perceived control is a relevant variable for understanding middle and older adults’ mental health. The Perceived Control Scale has two dimensions, Perceived Constraints on Personal Control and Perceived Mastery, and is a widely used instrument for assessing perceived control in adults. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Perceived Control Scale with data from two different studies.

Method

In Study 1, 348 older adults between 60 and 92 years old were assessed through face-to-face assessments. In Study 2, 334 adults between 40 and 90 years completed an online survey. Perceived control, self-perceptions of aging, and anxiety and depressive symptomatology were assessed. An exploratory (Study 1) and confirmatory (Study 2) factor analysis of the Perceived Control Scale were performed, and reliability and its relationship with the other assessed variables were evaluated.

Results

Results from parallel, exploratory, and confirmatory factor analyses suggested that the Spanish version of the Perceived Control Scale has a bidimensional structure: Perceived Constraints on Personal Control and Perceived Mastery. Good internal consistency was found for the scale in both samples. The results revealed negative and significant associations with negative self-perceptions of aging, and anxiety and depressive symptomatology.

Conclusion

The Spanish version of the Perceived Control Scale shows good psychometric properties which endorse its use with middle-aged and older adults assessed either face-to-face or through online surveys.

Keywords:

• Aging
• anxiety
• depression
• perceived control
• psychometrics

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the participants in the study. We thank the City Council of Getafe (Madrid, Spain) and the Older Adults Cultural Centers of Ferrer I Guardia and Ramón Rubial (Madrid, Spain) for their support in the recruitment of the sample.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

María del Sequeros Pedroso-Chaparro was supported by a Pre-Doctoral Grant from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. José A. Fernandes-Pires was supported by a Pre-Doctoral Grant from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. No additional funding was available.