Adaptation and psychometric properties of the Spanish Perceived Ageism Questionnaire (PAQ)

Objectives Perceived ageism is a critical variable for understanding mental health and wellbeing across the lifespan. The Perceived Ageism Questionnaire (PAQ) assesses subjective experiences of both negative and positive perceived ageism through dimensions of stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination. The aim of this study was to (a) adapt the PAQ into Spanish and analyze its psychometric properties and (b) examine the associations between perceived ageism, mental health, self-perceptions of aging and age. Method A sample of 404 adults living in Spain (aged 18 to 95 years old) completed the Spanish version of the PAQ along with measures of depression, anxiety, stress, life satisfaction and self-perceptions of aging. Content and face validity were evaluated through expert panels and focus groups with participants of different ages. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to analyze the dimensionality of the scale, reliability was assessed using internal consistency indices. Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MG-CFA) was used to test measurement invariance across gender and age groups. Results The Spanish PAQ demonstrated a robust bidimensional structure, distinguishing between perceived negative and positive ageism, consistent with the original Dutch, Portuguese and Turkish versions. The internal consistency was acceptable for both subscales. MG-CFA confirmed full scalar invariance across gender and partial scalar invariance across age groups. Hierarchical regressions revealed that higher levels of perceived negative ageism were significantly associated with greater psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress), lower life satisfaction and more negative self-perceptions of aging. Conversely, perceived positive ageism correlated with higher life satisfaction. Regarding age distribution, MIMIC models revealed a significant U-shaped trajectory for perceived negative ageism and an inverted U-shaped trajectory for perceived positive ageism across the lifespan. Conclusion The Spanish version of the PAQ exhibits good psychometric properties, supporting its preliminary validity and reliability for assessing perceived age-based discrimination in Spanish-speaking populations across various age groups.