Psychometric Properties of the Wolpe-Lazarus Assertiveness Scale with Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Author(s)

Evan S. Kogan, Nova Southeastern University
Michel Hersen, Nova Southeastern University
Robert I. Kabacoff, Nova Southeastern University
Vincent B. Van Hasselt, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1995

Publication Title

Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment

Volume

17

Issue/Number

2

First Page

97

ISSN

0882-2689

Last Page

109

Abstract/Excerpt

The psychometric properties of the Wolpe-Lazarus Assertiveness Scale (WLAS) were examined with an older community-dwelling, nonclinical, adult population. Three hundred twenty-seven older adults (ages, 57–96; mean, 75.68) who were not psychiatrically impaired completed a demographic questionnaire and the WLAS. Fifty-seven of the 327 subjects also filled out the WLAS on a repeated basis after 3 or 4 weeks in order to determine the test-retest reliability. Results indicate that the WLAS has an adequate internal consistency (Cronbach'sα=.75) and test-retest reliability (r=.81). WLAS cutoff scores of 14 and under identify unassertiveness. Older adults who are (1) African-American or (2) of lower SES tend to be significantly less assertive. Also, five factors emerged from a principal-components analysis accounting for 34.7% of the total variance.

DOI

10.1007/BF02229012

NSUWorks Citation

Kogan, E. S., Hersen, M., Kabacoff, R. I., Van Hasselt, V. B. (1995). Psychometric Properties of the Wolpe-Lazarus Assertiveness Scale with Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 17(2), 97-109.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/704