Psychometric properties of the 10-item and 25-itemgerotranscendence scale

The gerotranscendence theory posits that old age represents a profound and transformativephase, characterized by a fundamental reorientation in individuals’ perceptions of life andexistence. To quantify gerotranscendence in a cross-sectional context, Tornstam devisedtwo gerotranscendence scales: a comprehensive 25-item version and a more concise 10-item version. Although the psychometric properties of the 10-item gerotranscendencescale have been examined in older populations, the comprehensive 25-item scale remainsunderexplored and the reliability of both scales have been seldomly tested on youngerpopulations. The present study aims to bridge this gap by assessing the psychometricproperties of both the 10-item and 25-item Slovene gerotranscendence scale in a sample ofyoung, middle-aged, and older adults. Data for the study were derived from the third waveof the European Social Survey CRONOS 2 Web panel conducted in Slovenia, comprising502 participants 18 to 82 years old. Both the gerotranscendence scales exhibited remarkablyweak model fit in all age groups, both collectively and disaggregated. This finding rendersthe measurement of gerotranscendence in Slovenia using the original gerotranscendencescales unfeasible and underscores the need for further refinement and scale development.