Psychometric Properties of the Work Ability Index in Health Centre Workers in Spain

Inmaculada Mateo Rodríguez, Emily Caitlin Lily Knox, Coral Oliver Hernández, Antonio Daponte Codina and the esTAR Group
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Inmaculada Mateo Rodríguez: Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad a Distancia de Madrid (UNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Emily Caitlin Lily Knox: Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, 18011 Granada, Spain
Coral Oliver Hernández: Department of Social, Work and Differential Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Antonio Daponte Codina: Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, 18011 Granada, Spain
the esTAR Group: Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, 18011 Granada, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-10

Abstract: The aim of the present study is to analyse the psychometric properties of the work ability index (WAI) within a sample of Spanish health centre workers. The WAI was translated into Spanish using transcultural and forward–backward translation processes and administered to 1184 Spanish health centre workers. Internal consistency, predictive validity, and discriminative ability were examined. Exploratory factor analysis, via principal components analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, determined the most appropriate questionnaire structure. All indices in relation to predictive validity and reliability were acceptable. Exploratory factor analysis supported validity of the one-factor structure, however, confirmatory factor analysis suggested better properties in relation to a two-factor structure (χ 2 = 59.52; CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.96; RMSEA = 0.06). Items 3, 4, and 5 loaded onto factor one, and items 1, 2, 6, and 7 loaded onto factor two. The two factors could be broadly described as “subjectively estimated work ability” and “ill-health-related ability”. The WAI is valid and reliable when administered to health centre workers in Spain. In contrast to that suggested by studies conducted in other countries, future research and practical application with similar respondents and settings should proceed using the two-factor structure.

Keywords: work ability index; Spain; validation; healthy ageing; cohort study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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