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The Martin and Park Environmental Demands (MPED) Questionnaire: Psychometric properties of a brief instrument to measure self-reported environmental demands

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Abstract

Background and aims: The present study examines the usefulness of a newly developed instrument, the Martin and Park Environmental Demands (MPED) Questionnaire, to measure the level of self-reported environmental demands of day-to-day events faced by adults aged 35 to 84 years, particularly as these demands influence forgetfulness in taking medications. Methods: The MPED has two scales including Busyness, which addresses the density or pace of daily events to which an individual attends; and Routine, addressing the predictability or routinization of events independent of density. The MPED was administered to a sample of 121 rheumatoid arthritis patients, along with a baseline assessment battery measuring age, education, employment status, household size and other factors that might influence self-perception of Busyness and Routine. Results: The scale showed good internal consistency and external validity. Higher levels of environmental demand were negatively correlated with age and positively correlated with employment, household size and medication-taking errors. There was a significant independent association between Busyness and adherence errors even after controlling for the effects of these sociodemographic variables. Conclusions: The MPED is recommended when trying to assess the general daily level of environmental demands.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Gerontopsychology, University of Zürich, Schaffhauserstrasse 15, CH-8006, Zürich, Switzerland

    Mike Martin

  2. Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    Denise C. Park

Authors
  1. Mike Martin
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  2. Denise C. Park
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Correspondence to Mike Martin.

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Martin, M., Park, D.C. The Martin and Park Environmental Demands (MPED) Questionnaire: Psychometric properties of a brief instrument to measure self-reported environmental demands. Aging Clin Exp Res 15, 77–82 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324483

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324483

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