Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

The Comprehensive Environmental Questionnaire for the Elderly (CEQ) was developed to measure satisfaction levels among community-dwelling older adults regarding their environment. The CEQ comprises 14 question items grouped into three factors, which are rated on a four-point Likert scale. To expand the applicability of the CEQ to community-dwelling older adults requiring support from long-term care and family members for their community-living, this study examined the factorial structure and scale system of the CEQ to verify its validity and reliability. Data were collected individually from 218 participants who receive no rehabilitative services but require homemaking services and/or support from family members. The factorial structure and scale system were examined using structural equation modeling and an item response theory (IRT) approach, respectively. We obtained values between 0.93 and 0.66 for factor loadings, 0.98 for comparative fit index, and 0.97 for Tucker–Lewis index, which indicated a good to adequate fit. The value of root mean square error of approximation was 0.094, indicating a mediocre fit. The IRT analysis showed an accurate description of item function of the CEQ. The CEQ was applicable to the present study population. Although the CEQ concept was confirmed, the questionnaire warrants further improvement.