THE REMINISCENCE FUNCTIONS SCALE - A REPLICATION

This article reports the findings of a replication and validation stud y of the factor structure of the recently developed Reminiscence Funct ions Scale (RFS) [1]. Three hundred and ninety-nine adult subjects ran ging in age from seventeen to forty-five years (M age = 22.7, SD = 5.7 ) completed the RFS. A principal components analysis indicated the via bility of an eight-factor scale which strongly parallels the earlier s cale construction. Factors were labeled: Boredom Reduction, Death Prep aration, Identity, Problem-Solving, Conversation, Intimacy Maintenance , Bitterness Revival, and Teach/Inform. Internal consistency scores ra nged from .74 to .86 and closely duplicated original scores. Age diffe rences on Death Preparation and Teach/Inform were replicated. Potentia l uses of the RFS are documented.