In an era where the global population is aging rapidly, understanding older adults’ attitudes toward aging has become a vital area of psychological research. A pioneering new study conducted by Priyadarshani, Ilankoon, Warnakulasuriya, and colleagues delves into this very topic, focusing specifically on institutionalized older adults in Sri Lanka. Their work, published in the eminent journal BMC Psychology in 2025, presents the cross-cultural adaptation and thorough psychometric evaluation of the Sinhala version of the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ). This advancement promises to enrich gerontological psychology and offer culturally relevant tools for assessing perceptions of aging within South Asian contexts.
The research underscores the critical importance of culturally sensitive instruments when assessing subjective experiences related to aging. Attitudes to aging are influenced by diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and institutional factors, which vary widely across geographies. Prior to this study, the AAQ had been validated predominantly in Western contexts. Therefore, translating and adapting this widely used tool into Sinhala, the language spoken by the majority in Sri Lanka, represents a robust step toward bridging a significant research gap. This adaptation permits researchers and clinicians to more accurately gauge institutionalized elderly Sri Lankans’ attitudes toward aging in a manner rooted in their cultural norms and values.
Developing a culturally adapted version of a psychological scale is not a simple word-for-word translation exercise but involves a meticulous process known as cross-cultural adaptation. The team employed a rigorous methodology involving forward and backward translation by bilingual experts, followed by synthesis and reconciliation stages to ensure semantic, idiomatic, experiential, and conceptual equivalence between the original and adapted versions. Such a level of depth is essential to retain the psychometric properties and relevance of the instrument, thereby avoiding measurement bias and enhancing reliability and validity across different settings.
Beyond linguistic translation, the study accounted for the unique psychosocial dynamics faced by institutionalized older adults in Sri Lanka. Institutionalization often entails a profound shift in an individual’s social environment, affecting self-perception, psychological well-being, and attitudes toward the aging process. By targeting this specific population, the researchers addressed a vulnerable subgroup whose experiences are often underrepresented in aging research. Their approach recognizes that institutional settings, with their cultural-specific norms and care practices, significantly influence attitudes to aging and necessitate tailored assessment tools.
The psychometric evaluation included confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and reliability assessments that demonstrated the Sinhala AAQ’s strong internal consistency and construct validity. Notably, the factor structures retained coherence with those found in original AAQ versions, supporting the universality of core dimensions such as psychosocial loss, physical change, and psychological growth amidst aging. However, the nuanced cultural adaptations likely enriched item relevance, allowing the instrument to sensitively capture the lived realities of Sri Lankan older adults residing in institutions.
Moreover, this adapted tool can serve multiple practical functions beyond academic research. Mental health professionals and caregivers in institutional settings can employ the Sinhala AAQ as a screening instrument to identify elders with potentially negative attitudes toward aging, which are linked to adverse health outcomes and diminished quality of life. Early detection through culturally attuned instruments can inform targeted psychosocial interventions aiming to foster positive aging attitudes, resilience, and emotional well-being among institutionalized older adults.
This study also opens a promising pathway for comparative cross-cultural studies of aging attitudes across South Asia and beyond. Given the demographic shifts and heterogeneity of aging experiences worldwide, culturally adapted instruments, like this Sinhala AAQ, enrich international gerontological research. They enable meaningful comparisons while respecting cultural specificity, thereby informing global health policy and creating frameworks for culturally competent care programs that optimize elder wellness.
The research’s significance extends to its potential influence on healthcare strategies within Sri Lanka. As an increasingly aging society faces resource constraints, understanding institutionalized elders’ perspectives can guide policy reforms aimed at enhancing geriatric care models. Integrating psychological constructs such as attitudes towards aging into care assessments emphasizes holistic approaches that address mental and emotional health alongside physical care, ultimately improving elder dignity and overall quality of life.
Furthermore, the meticulous validation process described sheds light on best practices for future adaptations of psychological instruments into languages with underrepresented populations. The researchers’ transparent and detailed methodology can serve as a roadmap for similar initiatives globally, highlighting challenges and solutions encountered during translation, cultural adaptation, and validation studies.
This groundbreaking research also indirectly touches on pressing issues such as ageism and social inclusion. Negative attitudes toward aging, whether internalized by elders or perpetuated by society, contribute to stigmatization and marginalization. By providing a reliable tool to measure these attitudes in institutional contexts, the study supports efforts to combat ageist stereotypes and advocate for environments that empower older adults to experience positive self-concept and social participation.
Additionally, the data generated through widespread use of the Sinhala AAQ could enable longitudinal research tracking changes in aging attitudes over time and in response to interventions or evolving social conditions. Such longitudinal insights are critical for designing dynamic care practices and policies that effectively respond to aging populations’ shifting needs and aspirations.
In summary, Priyadarshani and colleagues offer a landmark contribution to the science of aging by creating and validating a culturally nuanced, psychometrically robust tool to measure attitudes toward aging among institutionalized elderly Sri Lankans. Their work exemplifies rigorous cross-cultural psychological research and holds promise for advancing eldercare and mental health interventions not only in Sri Lanka but also in comparable cultural contexts worldwide. As global demographic trends accelerate, such innovations become indispensable for meeting the complex needs of a rapidly aging population with cultural competence and scientific rigor.
The study’s meticulous processes, from translation through comprehensive psychometric evaluation, reflect an exemplary standard for future cross-cultural research endeavors. They highlight the crucial interplay between culture, language, and psychological measurement, reminding us that effective healthcare and policy must be intricately tailored to human diversity. By amplifying marginalized voices within institutionalized aging populations, this research also champions inclusivity as a cornerstone of ethical and responsive scientific practice.
Ultimately, the Sinhala AAQ adaptation is poised to become more than just an academic exercise; it is an actionable instrument with the potential to transform how Sri Lankan society understands and supports its aging members. Integrating such culturally valid measurement tools into routine care frameworks promises enhanced well-being, reduced stigma, and enriched intergenerational connection—critical aims as humanity charts its course through the unprecedented epoch of global aging.
Subject of Research:
Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire in institutionalized older adults in Sri Lanka.
Article Title:
Cross-cultural adaptation and analysis of psychometric properties of the Sinhala version of the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire for institutionalized older adults.
Article References:
Priyadarshani, U.G.N., Ilankoon, I.M.P.S., Warnakulasuriya, S.S.P. et al. Cross-cultural adaptation and analysis of psychometric properties of the Sinhala version of the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire for institutionalized older adults. BMC Psychol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03919-y
Image Credits: AI Generated
