Generative Roles: Assessing Sustained Involvement in Generativity
[1]
Sherry Hamby, Department of Psychology, University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA.
[2]
Lindsey A. Thomas, Department of Psychology, University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA.
[3]
Victoria L. Banyard, Department of Psychology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.
[4]
Ed de St. Aubin, Department of Psychology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
[5]
John Grych, Department of Psychology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Generative roles refer to observable, behavioral community positions that embody aspects of teaching and nurturing that are central to the concept of generativity. Two studies are presented that describe generative roles in a community sample and provide psychometric data for a short index of generative roles. The first study also provides reliability and validity data from a second informant. The second study examines generative roles at different stages of adolescence and adulthood. Participants were asked 8 yes/no questions about a variety of community roles. The validity of the GRI was supported by significant correlations with the Loyola Generativity Scale, a widely used measure of generative concern (r=.33), and measures of related constructs. The correlations were similar across age categories. The Generative Roles Index has good psychometric qualities and complements existing measures of generativity by providing behavioral, observable data on roles.
Generativity, Measurement, Meaning, Resilience
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