The Construction and Validation of the Elderly Reminiscence Questionnaire

Reminiscence appears to be a crucial variable in the elderly, according elderly related literature. However, there is seen to be a lack of a suitable tool to assess the rate and kind of reminiscence in the aged people in Iran. Therefore, the current study was to construct and validate an elderly reminiscence questionnaire based on Watt and Wong (1991) model. This was a “research and development” study in terms of its purpose and a descriptive one in terms of its kind. The statistical population contained the whole aged individuals up to 60 years old residing in Hamedan, Kermanshah, Arak, Rasht, Semnan, Urmia, Abadan, Tehran and Kerman, among whom selected using convenience sampling were 436 (226 male & 210 female) who filled out a 48-item elderly reminiscence questionnaire. Having been analysed using SPSS-23, results indicated that the internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha-coefficient) was 0.904 for whole items and were 0.904, 0.826, 0.795, 0.812, and 0.774 for narrative-transmissive, obsessive, integrative, death preparation, and escapist subscales respectively. The factor structure of the questionnaire was analysed using Exploratory Factor Analysis with Varimax Rotation. Results indicated that 18 items in questionnaire don’t exhibit acceptable loading on any component and there were found 30 items which exhibited the highest loadings on 5 emerged components include narrative-transmissive (8 items), obsessive (6 items), integrative (7 items), death preparation (5 items), and escapist reminiscence (4 items). Besides, the instrumental and intimacy maintenance subscales were deleted from the questionnaire. Hence, it may open up a new chapter in the elderly related studies in Iran, with the utilization of 30-item elderly reminiscence questionnaire in future studies and the consideration of the relationship between the rate and kind of reminiscence with other significant elderly related variables.
References
Afshari, A., Rezai, R., & Dadras, F. (2019). The Effectiveness of structured reminiscence on anxiety and depression in the elderly. Aging Psychology, 5(3), 201-215. doi: 10.22126/jap.2019.4704.1368 [Persian]
Amani, R. (2015). The Effectiveness of Structured Group Reminiscence on the Enhancement of Elderly's Positive Self-Concept. Aging Psychology, 1(1), 1-9. [Persian]
Beaver, M. L. (2017). Life review/reminiscent therapy. In P. K. H. Kim (Ed.), Serving the Elderly: Skills for Practice (pp. 67-87). Piscataway, New Jersey: transaction publishers. 
Bhar, S. S. (2014). Reminiscence therapy: A review. In N. A. Pachana & K Laidlaw (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Clinical Geropsychology (pp. 675-691). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Bluck, S., & Alea, N. (2002). Exploring the functions of autobiographical memory: why do I remember the autumn? In J. D. Webster and B. K. Haight (Eds). Critical Advances in Reminiscence: From Theory to Application (pp. 61-75). New York: Springer. 
Bohlmeijer, E. T., Westerhof, J. G. & Emmerik-de Jong, M. (2008). The Effects of integrative reminiscence on meaning in life: Results of a quasi- experimental study.  Aging and Mental Health, 12(5), 639-646. 
Brinker, J. K. (2013).  Rumination and reminiscence in older adults: implications for clinical practice. Europian Journal of Ageing, 10(3), 223–227. DOI: 10.1007/s10433-013-0271-y
 Butler, R. N. (1963) The Life review: An interpretation of reminiscence in the aged. Psychiatry, 26(1), 65-76.
Butler, R. N. (1974). ‘Successful Aging and the Role of the Life Review’. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 22(12), 529–535.
Cappeliez, P., Lavallée, R., & O'Rourke, N. (2001). Functions of reminiscence in later life as viewed by young and old adults. Canadian Journal on Aging, 20, 577–589.
Cappeliez, P., O'Rourke, N. (2006). Empirical validation of a model of reminiscence and health in later life. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 61(4), 237-244.
Cappeliez, P., O'Rourke, N., & Chaudhury, H. (2005). Functions of reminiscence and mental health in later life. Aging & Mental Health, 9(4), 295-301. 
Chen, S. M., Kuo, C. L., Chen, M. R., Lee L. L., Lee, P. Y., & Wang, S. F. (2016). The Effect of Structured Group Reminiscence Therapy on the Life Satisfaction of Institutionalized Elderly. The Journal of Nursing, 63(4), 70-9. doi: 10.6224/JN.63.4.70
Ching-Teng, Y., Chia-Ju, L., & Hsiu-Yueh, L. (2018). Effects of structured group reminiscence therapy on the life satisfaction of institutionalized older adults in Taiwan. Social World Health Care, 57(8), 674-687.
Cuijpers, P., Van Straten, A., Driessen, E., Van Oppen, P., Bockting, C., & Andersson, G. (2012). Depression and sydthemic disorder. In M. Hersen & P. Sturmey (Eds.), Handbook of Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Psychology, Adult Disorders (pp. 243-284). Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons Inc. 
Cully, J. A., LaVoie, D., & Gfeller, J. D. (2001). Reminiscence, personality, and psychological functioning in older adults. The Gerontologist, 41(1), 89-95. doi:10.1093/geront/41.1.89
Dehshiri, G., Najafi, M., Sohrabi, F., Taraghijah, S. (2013). Development and validation of the spiritual well-being questionnaire among university students. Journal of Psychological Studies, 9(4), 73-98. doi: 10.22051/psy.2014.1759 [Persian] 
Johnston, B., & Narayanasamy, M. (2016). Exploring psychosocial interventions for people with dementia that enhance personhood and relate to legacy- an integrative review. Johnston and Narayanasamy BMC Geriatrics, 16 (77), 1-25. DOI: 10.1186/s12877-016-0250-1
Karimi, H., Dolatshahee, B., Momeni, K., Khodabakhshi, A., Rezaei, M., & Kamrani, A. A. (2010). Effectiveness of integrative and instrumental reminiscence therapies on depression symptoms reduction in institutionalized older adults: an empirical study. Aging Mental Health, 14(7), 881-887. doi: 10.1080/13607861003801037
Lewis, C. N. (1971). Reminiscing and self-concept in old age. Journal of Gerontology, 26, 240-243.
Majzoobi, M.R., Momeni, K., Amani, R., Hojjat Khah, M. (2012). The effectiveness of structured group reminiscence on the enhancement of the elderlts’ life quality and happiness.  9(34), 182-202. [Persian]
Marina Afonso, R., Serrano Selva, J. P., & Latorre Postigo, J. L. (2016). Reminiscence. In J. P. Serrano Selva (Ed.), Reminiscence and Well-Being in Centenarians. University of Castilla-La Mancha, Portugal.  
McMahon, A. W, & Rhudick, T. J. (1964). Reminiscing: Significance in the aged. Archives of General Psychiatry, 10, 292-298
Meléndez, J. C., Fortuna, F. B. Sales, A. Mayordomo, T. (2015).  The Effects of instrumental reminiscence on resilience and coping in elderly. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 60 (2), 294-298.  
Momeni, K., Amani, R., Majzoobi, M. R., & Mohebi, Z. (2014). The Effectiveness of structured group reminiscence on depression and self-esteem of older women. International Jornal of Behavioral Sciences, 8(3), 287-294. [Persian]
Moral, J. C. M., Terrero, F. B. F., Galán, A. S., & Rodríguez, T. M. (2015). Effect of integrative reminiscence therapy on depression, well-being, integrity, self-esteem, and life satisfaction in older adults. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(3), 240–247.  
Musavi, M., Mohammadian, S., & Mohammadinezhad, B. (2017). The effect of group integrative reminiscence therapy on mental health among older women living in Iranian nursing homes. Nursing Open, 4(4), 303-309.
Sabir, M., Henderson, C. R., Kang, S. Y., & Pillemer, K. (2016). Attachment-focused integrative reminiscence with older African Americans: a randomized controlled intervention study. Aging Mental Health, 20(5), 517-528.
Satorres, E., Viguer, P., Fortuna, F. B., & Meléndez, J. C. (2018). Effectiveness of instrumental reminiscence intervention on improving coping in healthy older adults. Stress Health, 34(2), 227-234. DOI: 10.1002/smi.2776
Stinson, C. K. (2009). Structured Group Reminiscence: An Intervention for Older Adults. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 40(11), 521-528.
Tarugu, J., Pavithra, R., Vinothchandar, S., Basu, A., Chaudhuri, S., John, K. R. (2019). Effectiveness of structured group reminiscence therapy in decreasing the feelings of loneliness, depressive symptoms and anxiety among inmates of a residential home for the elderly in Chittoor district. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 6, 847-854. 
Tatchell, T., Jordan, T. R., Waite, P. J., & Tatchell, R. H. (2004). Transmissive reminiscence therapy with college students and institutionalized senior adults. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 1(4), 35-52. 
Waite, P. J. (2004, November).  Impacts of an intergenerational transmissive reminiscence intervention on the perceived health of seniors living independently in the community. Article presented in Public Health and the Invironment, Washington, Dc.
Watt, L. M., & Cappeliez, P. (2000). Integrative and instrumental reminiscence therapies for depression in older adults: Intervention strategies and treatment effectiveness.  Aging & Mental Health, 4(2), 166-177. 
Webster, J. D. (1997) The Reminiscence Function Scale; a replication. International Journal of Ageing and Human Development, 44(2), 137-139.
Webster, J., Bohlmeijer, E. T., and Westerhof, G. J. (2010). ‘Mapping the Future of Reminiscence: A Conceptual Guide for Research and Practice’. Research on Aging 32(4), 527–564.
Whitbourne, S. K. (Ed.). (2016). The Encyclopedia of adulthood and aging (Vol. 2). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Wilson, L. A. (2006). A comparison of the effects of reminiscence therapy and transmissive reminiscence therapy on levels of depression in nursing home residents (Doctoral Disertation). Capella University,  Minnesota.  UMI Number: 3206563
Woods, B., Spector, A., Jones, C., Orrell, M., & Davies, S. (2005). Reminiscence therapy for dementia (Review). The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 18(2), CD001120.
Yousefi Afrashteh, M. (2018). Construction and to validate the Iranian scale measuring lifelong learning approach among medical students. Educational Strategies in Medical Sciences, 10(6), 423-430. [Persian]
Yousefi, z., Sharifi, K.,  Tagharrobi, Z., &  Akbari, H. (2015).  The Effect of narrative reminiscence on happiness of elderly women. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 17(11), e19612.