Reliability and validity of The Assessment of Readiness for Mobility Transition short form.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Some adults outlive their driving life expectancy and face retirement from driving. The Assessment of Readiness for Mobility Transition (ARMT) is a 24-item tool designed to measure emotional and attitudinal readiness for such a transition. The objective of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of an eight-item Short Form (ARMT-SF) to increase the feasibility of using this tool in time-constrained clinical contexts.

Research design and methods: We conducted factor analysis of ARMT-SF items in a sample of community-dwelling older adults (n = 304; age = 55-96 years) from New England who completed annual wellness surveys in 2019-2021. We used principal component analyses to compare (1) factor structure of the ARMT-SF to the original ARMT and (2) correlations between the ARMT-SF and other gerontological assessments.

Results: Participants were White (98%), female (74%), married/partnered (67%), and retired (71%). We identified three factors (Eigenvalues > 1) which accounted for 61% of variance. Seven of the items loaded distinctly on these factors. Validity correlations showed the ARMT-SF is not associated with age, but is associated with depression, anxiety, and perceived cognitive decline.

Discussion and implications: The ARMT-SF is a valid instrument to assess attitudinal and emotional readiness for a mobility transition. This readiness construct is embedded in broader aging-related adjustment and so relevant to geriatric assessment. By using this brief screening tool to identify patients' readiness for change and tailor communication and care planning accordingly, clinicians may be able to reduce time barriers to important mobility transition counseling.