Table 2 Item characteristics and standardized factor loadings of the APQ-S

 1. I am always aware of my age

3.7

3.97

1.10

4.00

.66

 2. I always classify myself as old

4.8

3.35

1.26

4.00

.67

 3. I am always aware of the fact that I am getting older

3.7

3.86

1.06

4.00

.85

 19. I go through cycles in which my experience of aging gets better and worse

5.3

3.42

1.08

4.00

.50

 20. I go through phases of feeling old

4.3

3.85

1.00

4.00

.70

 21. My awareness of getting older changes a great deal from day to day

4.6

3.39

1.07

4.00

.42

 4. As I get older I get wiser

4.6

3.30

1.21

4.00

.80

 5. As I get older I continue to grow as a person

4.6

3.46

1.13

4.00

.89

 6. As I get older I appreciate things more

4.6

3.77

1.11

4.00

.64

 10. Getting older restricts the things that I can do

4.1

3.89

1.01

4.00

.80

 11. Getting older makes everything a lot harder for me

4.6

3.87

1.09

4.00

.85

 12. As I get older I can take part in fewer activities

4.3

3.95

1.02

4.00

.72

 16. I get depressed when I think about getting older

4.6

3.09

1.30

3.00

.82

 17. I worry about the effects that getting older may have on my relationships with others

4.6

3.21

1.23

4.00

.76

 18. I feel angry when I think about getting older

4.8

2.52

1.31

2.00

.64

 7. The quality of my social life in later years depends on me

4.3

3.50

1.12

4.00

.84

 8. Whether I continue living life to the full depends on me

4.6

3.45

1.17

4.00

.90

 9. Whether getting older has positive sides to it depends on me

4.1

3.51

1.15

4.00

.81

 13. Slowing down with age is not something I can control

4.8

2.14

1.01

2.00

.76

 14. How mobile I am in later life is not up to me

4.3

2.15

.99

2.00

.89

 15. I have no control over whether I lose vitality or zest for life as I age

3.9

2.29

1.06

2.00

.71