Date of Award
5-2022
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Marieke Van Puymbroeck
Committee Member
Dr. Christy Brown
Committee Member
Dr. Brandi M. Crowe
Committee Member
Dr. Nicole Davis
Abstract
Transitions into assisted living facilities (ALFs) may influence older adults’ wellbeing. Positive influences on older adults’ wellbeing are referred to as adjustment strategies, whereas negative influences are called constraints to wellbeing. Theoretical underpinnings for these influences are found in the Hierarchical Leisure Constraints Theory and the Transition Process Framework. Past research indicates a few influences on older adults’ wellbeing, such as family relationships, perceived physical health, and connections to the community. However, no assessment existed to quantify their wellbeing when relocating into an ALF. Therefore, this dissertation details the development and factor structure of the Mueller Assessment of Transition (MAT), a novel assessment to measure older adults’ wellbeing when transitioning into ALFs. Utilizing survey research design, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted with 69 older adult participants to analyze the factor structure of the MAT. The findings from the EFA provided a 12-item MAT for a final round of data collection in a nationwide sample of 108 older adult participants in ALFs. Using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the factor structure of the MAT was confirmed for adequate validity and reliability. Lastly, multiple linear regression models were analyzed for relationships between older adults’ wellbeing at time of transition, their past/current health conditions, and their perceived functional abilities. Findings indicated that past/current genitourinary health conditions were predictive of older adults’ wellbeing at time of transition, while wellbeing at time of transition was also predictive of perceived functional abilities. Overall, applications for healthcare practitioners using the MAT with older adults in ALFs are further detailed, and limitations of the dissertation are presented, including the COVID-19 pandemic as a threat to internal validity. Future research for the MAT includes testing for convergent validity, longitudinal analyses for older adults’ first year living in the ALF, and investigating the MAT with other older adult settings like independent living facilities, adult day programs, and skilled nursing facilities.
Recommended Citation
Mueller, Kaitlin, "Development and Testing of the Mueller Assessment of Transition (MAT): A Tool for Measuring Older Adults' Wellbeing when Transitioning into Assisted Living Facilities" (2022). All Dissertations. 3062.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/3062