Development of a psychological frailty index: results from the China health and retirement longitudinal study
ObjectivePsychological frailty, an emerging concept, lacks a standardized definition, measuring instrument, and empirical evidence in Asian (especially Chinese) populations. An effective instrument to measure psychological frailty should be urgently developed. Therefore, this study aimed to develop...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1495733/full |
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| author | Jinlong Zhao Justina Yat Wa Liu Justina Yat Wa Liu Daniel Fernández Stefanos Tyrovolas Stefanos Tyrovolas Stefanos Tyrovolas Stefanos Tyrovolas |
| author_facet | Jinlong Zhao Justina Yat Wa Liu Justina Yat Wa Liu Daniel Fernández Stefanos Tyrovolas Stefanos Tyrovolas Stefanos Tyrovolas Stefanos Tyrovolas |
| author_sort | Jinlong Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectivePsychological frailty, an emerging concept, lacks a standardized definition, measuring instrument, and empirical evidence in Asian (especially Chinese) populations. An effective instrument to measure psychological frailty should be urgently developed. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and initially validate a Psychological Frailty Index (PFI) based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The study assessed the applicability of the PFI to adverse health outcomes as a secondary aim.ResultsFactor analysis of the 15-item PFI extracted four factors of psychological frailty (psychological distress, cognitive decline, physical vulnerability, and memory decline). The PFI demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.764) and criterion validity (rho = 0.806). Psychological frailty was significantly associated with lower life expectancy (odds ratio [OR] 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.71–2.29), higher outpatient treatments (1.25, 1.03–1.51), and increased hospitalization (1.45, 1.22–1.74).ConclusionThe PFI could be a reliable instrument for identifying psychological frailty. The PFI is a novel tool that measures health indicators of older adults at risk of increased psychological vulnerability, but it requires further validation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eb620c97ccb843c884e76883dd31d244 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-eb620c97ccb843c884e76883dd31d2442025-02-11T06:59:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-02-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14957331495733Development of a psychological frailty index: results from the China health and retirement longitudinal studyJinlong Zhao0Justina Yat Wa Liu1Justina Yat Wa Liu2Daniel Fernández3Stefanos Tyrovolas4Stefanos Tyrovolas5Stefanos Tyrovolas6Stefanos Tyrovolas7School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaSchool of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaResearch Institute for Smart Ageing, PolyU Institutional Research Archive, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Statistics and Operations Research (DEIO). Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech (UPC), Barcelona, SpainSchool of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Food Studies, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United StatesResearch, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, SpainInstituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, SpainObjectivePsychological frailty, an emerging concept, lacks a standardized definition, measuring instrument, and empirical evidence in Asian (especially Chinese) populations. An effective instrument to measure psychological frailty should be urgently developed. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and initially validate a Psychological Frailty Index (PFI) based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The study assessed the applicability of the PFI to adverse health outcomes as a secondary aim.ResultsFactor analysis of the 15-item PFI extracted four factors of psychological frailty (psychological distress, cognitive decline, physical vulnerability, and memory decline). The PFI demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.764) and criterion validity (rho = 0.806). Psychological frailty was significantly associated with lower life expectancy (odds ratio [OR] 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.71–2.29), higher outpatient treatments (1.25, 1.03–1.51), and increased hospitalization (1.45, 1.22–1.74).ConclusionThe PFI could be a reliable instrument for identifying psychological frailty. The PFI is a novel tool that measures health indicators of older adults at risk of increased psychological vulnerability, but it requires further validation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1495733/fullfrailtypsychological frailtyCHARLS databasescale developmentgerontology |
| spellingShingle | Jinlong Zhao Justina Yat Wa Liu Justina Yat Wa Liu Daniel Fernández Stefanos Tyrovolas Stefanos Tyrovolas Stefanos Tyrovolas Stefanos Tyrovolas Development of a psychological frailty index: results from the China health and retirement longitudinal study Frontiers in Psychology frailty psychological frailty CHARLS database scale development gerontology |
| title | Development of a psychological frailty index: results from the China health and retirement longitudinal study |
| title_full | Development of a psychological frailty index: results from the China health and retirement longitudinal study |
| title_fullStr | Development of a psychological frailty index: results from the China health and retirement longitudinal study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a psychological frailty index: results from the China health and retirement longitudinal study |
| title_short | Development of a psychological frailty index: results from the China health and retirement longitudinal study |
| title_sort | development of a psychological frailty index results from the china health and retirement longitudinal study |
| topic | frailty psychological frailty CHARLS database scale development gerontology |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1495733/full |
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