Measuring Stress and Coping in Later Adulthood: Examining the Psychometric Properties of the Revised Stress Assessment Inventory for Older Adults.

Cognitive and behavioral factors contribute to the mitigation of stress-related health outcomes in later life. Given that stress management interventions for older adults are an important target for healthcare, there is a need for a relatively short and standardized assessment tool to comprehensively measure stress and coping in later adulthood while minimizing the burden on participants. The Stress Assessment Inventory (SAI), a 123-item measure designed to assess stress and coping resources in younger adults. The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the SAI in 294 older adults. The SAI was evaluated on its dimensionality, reliability, and validity. A shortened SAI is proposed for older adults, with good internal consistency and criterion validity. The Revised SAI was found to have a three-factor model that captures Adaptive Cognitive Resources, Maladaptive Behavioral and Cognitive Habits, and Adaptive Health Habits. The current study supports the use of the Revised SAI in community-dwelling older adult populations as a comprehensive tool to assess stress and coping for use by researchers and healthcare professionals.