Polish version of Lars Tornstam's Gerotranscendence Scale Type 2 (GST2-PL)

Abstract

Aim. This study presents the Polish version of the Gerotranscendence Scale Type 2 (GST2-PL) and describes the scale's psychometric properties (reliability and validity). The scale is mainly intended for research of older people. Method. A total of 685 (female = 464, male = 221) older adults (60-85 years) participated in the study. The following psychological methods were used: Gerotranscendence Scale Type 2 authored by L. Tornstam, Psychological Well-Being scale by C. Ryff, and the Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale by J.D. Webster. Results. An exploratory factor analysis of the Polish version of the GST2 revealed the same three-factor structure of gerotranscendence (containing the dimensions of the Cosmic, the Coherence, and the Solitude) as had been reported by Tornstam. The GST2-PL consists of 10 items, including 8 diagnostic ones. The factor structure of the GST2-PL was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. Conclusions. These findings provide support for use of the GST2 in assessing the signs of gerotranscendence not only for older adults in Sweden, Japan, USA, and Taiwan but also for older adults in Poland.