This research aimed to achieve three objectives: (1) analyze the exploratory
factor of self-reliance behavior among elderly individuals in a multicultural society, (2)
analyze the second-order confirmatory factor of self-reliant behavior, and (3) examine
the invariance of the measurement model of self-reliant behavior based on biosocial
characteristics of the elderly. The research was carried out on elderly individuals
residing in five southern border provinces of Thailand, namely Songkhla, Satun, Yala,
Pattani, and Narathiwat. The sample group was obtained through multistage random
sampling, with a quota of 300 elderly individuals for the group that underwent
preliminary item quality analysis and exploratory component analysis, and another 300
elderly individuals for the group that underwent confirmatory factor analysis and
measurement model invariance study.
According to the results of the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), the self
reliant behavior measure consisted of three factors, explaining 64.80Percent of the variance.
The Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) results indicated that the measurement model
of the self-reliance behavior scale was in line with the empirical data. The models
harmony index showed a Chi-Square value of 45.751, df of 32, p-value of 0.0547, CFI
of 0.995, TLI of 0.982, RMSEA of 0.038, and SRMR of 0.054.