Preliminary analysis of the psychometric properties of the Portuguese Perceived Ageism Questionnaire (PAQ)

Abstract

Objectives: Perceived ageism is a relevant variable for understanding adults’ mental health across different ages. The Perceived Ageism Questionnaire (PAQ) assesses how adults perceive ageism directed towards themselves—both negative and positive ageism—through dimensions of stereotype, prejudice and discrimination. The aim of this study was to (a) analyze the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the PAQ and (b) analyze the associations between PAQ, mental health, and age. Method: Across two different samples, 1,941 participants between 18 and 91 years completed the PAQ. In addition to perceived ageism, depression, anxiety, stress, and satisfaction with life were assessed. An exploratory (sample 1; n = 970) and confirmatory (sample 2; n = 971) factor analysis of the PAQ was performed. The PAQ’s reliability, relationship with other assessed variables, and age distribution were evaluated. Results: The Portuguese PAQ demonstrated good internal consistency in both samples. Factor analyses supported a bidimensional structure: perceived negative and positive ageism showed distinct patterns. Higher perceived negative ageism was significantly correlated with worse mental health. Negative ageism exhibited a U-shaped distribution across age, with younger and older adults reporting higher levels than middle-aged adults. Conclusion: The Portuguese version of the PAQ shows good psychometric properties, supporting its use in Portuguese-speaking populations.