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Validation of the Generative Motives Scale to Measure Generativity Among Midlife Grandparent Caregivers in Urban China

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Abstract

The study aims to test the psychometric properties of the Generative Motives Scale (GMS) among mid-older grandparent caregivers in urban China. Multistage cluster random sampling yielded a total of 618 grandparent caregivers (mean age = 60.46 years, 74.9% female) of children from nine kindergartens. We used EFA and CFA to determine the factor structure and checked measurement invariance across gender, age, and migration status subgroups. The revised GMS with three subscales of Symbolic Immortality, Feeling Needed, and Meeting Expectations had high reliability (α = 0.93) and sufficient validity (measurement invariant in subsamples). Also, migrant grandparent caregivers showed significantly lower generative motives scores than locals. Overall, this study contributed to the cross-cultural study of generativity theory and grandparenting practice by validating a reliable instrument on generative motives among mid-older grandparent caregivers in urban China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, China

    Haoyi Guo & Tao Sun

  2. Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China

    Steven Sek-yum Ngai

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  1. Haoyi Guo
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  2. Steven Sek-yum Ngai
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Correspondence to Haoyi Guo.

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All procedures performed in the study were approved by the Survey and Behavioral Research Ethics Committee at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Reference No. SBRE-19–705.

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Guo, H., Ngai, S.Sy. & Sun, T. Validation of the Generative Motives Scale to Measure Generativity Among Midlife Grandparent Caregivers in Urban China. J Adult Dev (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-023-09466-3

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