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ArticleFrontiers in psychology2026

Psychometric properties of the Beck Hopelessness Scale in Ecuadorian older adults: a comparative analysis of one-factor, two-factor, and three-factor models.

José Alejandro Valdevila Figueira, Andrés Ramírez, Rocío Valdevila Santiesteban, Vanessa Quito-Calle, Jose A Rodas, Pedro Andrés Muñoz-Arteaga, María José Pico Cucalon, Indira Dayana Carvajal Parra

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Article in Frontiers in psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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8 authors.

José Alejandro Valdevila FigueiraUniversidad Ecotec, Samborondón, Ecuador.
Andrés RamírezDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Applied Clinical Neuroscience Research Group (GINCA), Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cuenca, Ecuador.
Rocío Valdevila SantiestebanResearch Network in Psychology and Psychiatry (RIPYP), Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Vanessa Quito-CalleDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Applied Clinical Neuroscience Research Group (GINCA), Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cuenca, Ecuador.
Jose A RodasEscuela de Psicología, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondón, Ecuador.
Pedro Andrés Muñoz-ArteagaDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Applied Clinical Neuroscience Research Group (GINCA), Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cuenca, Ecuador.
María José Pico CucalonResearch Network in Psychology and Psychiatry (RIPYP), Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Indira Dayana Carvajal ParraResearch Network in Psychology and Psychiatry (RIPYP), Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Hopelessness is a predictor of depression and suicide. Suicide is a preventable cause of mortality worldwide. Although it is not among the leading overall causes of death in older adults due to the predominance of chronic non-communicable diseases, it remains an epidemiologically relevant issue in this stage of life. Globally, suicide ranked as the twenty-first leading cause of death in 2021, and approximately 16.6% of suicide-related deaths occurred among individuals aged 70 years and older. This highlights the need to assess associated psychological factors, such as hopelessness and depression, in the older adult population. Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Beck Hopelessness Scale in Ecuadorian older adults by analyzing its factorial structure in one-, two-, and three-factor models, as well as its reliability and validity evidence, in order to determine the most appropriate structure for use in this population. Method: The internal factorial structure, reliability, and construct validity of the Beck Hopelessness Scale were analyzed in Ecuadorian older adults. A total of 2,233 participants were assessed. Analyses were conducted for one-, two-, and three-factor variants. Reliability was examined using McDonald's omega coefficient and Cronbach's alpha, while validity was assessed through confirmatory factor analysis using the Weighted Least Squares Mean and Variance Adjusted (WLSMV) estimation method. Results: The Beck Hopelessness Scale was evaluated in 2,233 Ecuadorian older adults (M = 74.02 years, SD = 8.96). Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated an adequate fit for the one-, two-, and three-factor structures, with the one-factor model standing out due to its greater parsimony. The scale showed high internal consistency (ω = 0.933; α = 0.909) and adequate convergent validity (average variance extracted = 0.657). Factor loadings were significant across all models, supporting the relevance of the items for measuring hopelessness, although items D16 and D17 showed comparatively lower performance. Conclusion: Overall, the findings support the validity and reliability of the scale for assessing hopelessness in Ecuadorian older adults.

Indexed as

Beck Hopelessness Scaleolder adultspsychometricsreliabilityvalidity

Identifiers

PMID42807030
PMCPMC13616808

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