The tenacious goal pursuit and flexible goal adjustment scales: a validation study

Inge Henselmans; Joke Fleer; Eric van Sonderen; Ans Smink; Robbert Sanderman; Adelita V Ranchor

doi:10.1037/a0021536

The tenacious goal pursuit and flexible goal adjustment scales: a validation study

Psychol Aging. 2011 Mar;26(1):174-180. doi: 10.1037/a0021536.

Authors

Inge Henselmans¹, Joke Fleer¹, Eric van Sonderen¹, Ans Smink¹, Robbert Sanderman¹, Adelita V Ranchor¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Health Sciences, Section Health Psychology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen.

PMID: 21299305
DOI: 10.1037/a0021536

Abstract

The flexible goal adjustment (FLEX) and tenacious goal pursuit (TEN) scales are used regularly in aging research. The current study examined their validity in a sample of 517 women (30-75 years) in multiple ways. Overall, the findings show that the scales do not clearly distinguish between FLEX and TEN. The direction in which the items were formulated was just as important as what was being measured. Moreover, face validity of the inversely phrased items in particular appeared to be weak. On the basis of these findings, the authors recommend a revision of the concept definitions as well as of the items.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Validation Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aging / psychology
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Goals*
Humans
Middle Aged
Psychological Tests / standards*
Psychometrics
Reproducibility of Results