An exploration of the psychometric properties of the PASS-20 in older adults with chronic pain: Preliminary development and validity

Miriam Alonso-Fernández*, David Gillanders, Almudena López-López, Borja Matías, Andres Losada, José Luis González

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Objectives: The Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (PASS-20) is well validated in adults and younger populations, but not in older adults. This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the PASS-20 in Spanish older adults who experience chronic pain. 

Methods: Participants were 111 older adults with chronic pain living in nursing homes (mean age = 83.36; SD = 6.53; 78.6% female). Face-to-face interviews were conducted which included assessment of pain anxiety (PASS-20), chronic pain acceptance (CPAQ), depression symptoms (GDS), catastrophizing beliefs (PCS), pain severity, and sociodemographic information. An Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) approach was used to refine the scale. 

Results: The final scale was composed of seven items, measuring two factors that could be labeled “Internal experiences” and “Escape/Avoidance behaviors”. The two factors explained 60.98% of the total variance. PASS-7 version fit properly: χ2/df = 14.57/13, CMIN/df = 1.121, CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.033, TLI = 0.98, GFI = 0.96, AGFI = 0.92. Good validity indices were found and acceptable reliability results in the scale and its subscales (Chronbach´s α; Internal Experiences = 0.70; Escape/Avoidance Behaviors= 0.73; Total Scale = 0.77). 

Conclusions: The short version of the PASS-7 has good psychometric properties. 

Clinical Implications: The brevity of the PASS-7 increases the feasibility of this instrument which could potentially be utilized in a variety of clinical settings and research studies with older people with chronic pain samples, specially institutionalized older adults.

Original languageEnglish
JournalClinical Gerontologist
Early online date28 May 2021
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 28 May 2021

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • assessment
  • older adult
  • pain anxiety
  • PASS

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