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The development and initial validation of the Chinese Significant Wish Fulfillment Scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 August 2010

Amy Y. M. Chow ,
Meetim Chow ,
Catherine K. P. Wan ,
Katherine K. L. Wong  and
Rita W. T. Cheung
Amy Y. M. Chow*
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, and Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Meetim Chow
Affiliation:
Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, Hong Kong SAR, China
Catherine K. P. Wan
Affiliation:
Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, Hong Kong SAR, China
Katherine K. L. Wong
Affiliation:
Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, Hong Kong SAR, China
Rita W. T. Cheung
Affiliation:
Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, Hong Kong SAR, China
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Amy Y. M. Chow, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China. Fax: +852 2858 7604. Email: chowamy@hku.hk.
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Abstract

Background: This paper reports the development and validation of the Chinese Significant Wish Fulfillment Scale (CSWFS), a new multidimensional scale for assessing the perceived importance and level of fulfillment of wishes of older adults.

Methods: Three studies were involved. Study 1 developed a 26-item pool on wish fulfillment through in-depth interviews with 22 older adults. Study 2 reduced the pool to 23 items through validation with a new sample of 315 older adults and examined the internal reliability. Study 3 involved a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and examined the test-retest reliability and the convergent validity of the scale with the construct of regret.

Results: A five-factor structure model of 23 items was identified through exploratory factor analysis, which accounted for 51.67% of variance. As informed by the CFA in Study 3, a five-factor 22-item model was the best fit. Internal reliability and test-retest reliability was found to be good. Convergent validity was examined through correlation with the construct of future regret. The correlation, though statistically significant, was small.

Conclusion: CSWFS demonstrates good psychometric properties, but the construct might be slightly different from that of future regrets. Probably, CSWFS addresses a construct that is under-explored but is of importance to older adults and especially to the Chinese community.

Keywords

wish fulfillmentunfinished businessregretscale constructionscale validationreliabilityvalidityChinese
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , April 2011 , pp. 442 - 449
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

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