Cross-Cultural Measurement Invariance of a Measure of Disability for White, Black, Hispanic and Asian Older Adults

Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to determine the cross-cultural measurement equivalence of the Washington Group General Measure of Disability for older adults.

Materials and methods: This study used the 2012 California Health Interview Survey. The sample included 14,115 non-Hispanic White, Black, Hispanic and Asian adults aged 65 and older. Analysis was conducted using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), parallel and Tau-equivalent tests.

Results: The results indicated that the measure was valid for use with older adults (Satorra Bentler χ2 = 13.27, df = 3, p = 0.005, GFI = 0.996). Multi-group CFA indicated comparisons were valid between Whites with Blacks, and Hispanics with Asians. Cognitive disability was associated with independent living disability for Whites and Blacks, and with sensory disability for Hispanics and Asians.

Conclusions: Findings indicated the measure is valid for cross-cultural comparison for certain racial/ethnic groups. Further research is needed to understand differences in associations of cognitive decline with other areas of disability for older adults.