Factor structure and invariance of responses by older men and women to an abridged version of the Ryff scale of psychological well-being

No consensus yet exists regarding the structure and measurement of psychological well-being. Given the limitations of prior indices, Ryff has proposed a theoretically grounded measure consisting of six dimensions of positive psychological functioning. At present, few studies have examined the factor structure of responses to this scale, and available results are inconsistent. The present study provides an extended analysis of responses to the abridged, 18-item Scale of Psychological Well-Being by older men (n = 372) and women (n = 474) free of dementia recruited as part of the Canadian Study on Health and Aging. Results support a 4-factor model. Although this factor structure appears gender invariant (or equivalent), differences are found between men and women in terms of overall structure of psychological well-being. Implications of these sex differences and the use of this abridged Ryff scale are discussed, as well as the nature of psychological well-being across the life span.