Perceived Burdensomeness in Older and Younger Adults: Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated measurement invariance of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ-15) Perceived Burdensomeness subscale across younger and older adult age groups as well as the construct validity of the Perceived Burdensomeness subscale by comparing nomological networks across age groups.

METHOD: We used nested multigroup confirmatory factor analyses to address measurement invariance and Fisher's r-to-z transformations to compare correlations between perceived burdensomeness and other constructs in younger and older samples.

RESULTS: Results generally supported measurement invariance, but signals of differences in fit in older adults were present. The INQ-15 Perceived Burdensomeness subscale exhibited a significantly lower correlation with depressive symptoms in older adults compared to younger adults. Correlations between perceived burdensomeness and all other constructs were similar across age groups.

CONCLUSION: This study provides marginal support for measurement invariance of the INQ-15 Perceived Burdensomeness subscale across younger and older adults, but results also suggest age differences in the perceived burdensomeness construct.