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BMC Geriatrics
Published in: BMC Geriatrics 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Research article

International relevance of two measures of awareness of age-related change (AARC)

Authors: Serena Sabatini, Obioha C. Ukoumunne, Clive Ballard, Allyson Brothers, Roman Kaspar, Rachel Collins, Sarang Kim, Anne Corbett, Dag Aarsland, Adam Hampshire, Helen Brooker, Linda Clare

Published in: BMC Geriatrics | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

A questionnaire assessing awareness of positive and negative age-related changes (AARC gains and losses) was developed in the US and Germany. We validated the short form of the measure (AARC-10 SF) and the cognitive functioning subscale from the 50-item version of the AARC (AARC-50) questionnaire in the UK population aged 50 and over.

Methods

Data from 9410 participants (Mean (SD) age = 65.9 (7.1)) in the PROTECT cohort were used to explore and confirm the psychometric properties of the AARC measures including: validity of the factor structure; reliability; measurement invariance across men and women, individuals with and without a university degree, and in middle age, early old age, and advanced old age; and convergent validity with measures of self-perception of aging and mental, physical, and cognitive health. We explored the relationship between demographic variables (age, sex, marital status, employment, and university education) and AARC.

Results

We confirmed the two-factor structure (gains and losses) of the AARC-10 SF and the AARC-50 cognitive functioning subscale. Both scales showed good reliability and good convergent validity for AARC losses, but weak convergent validity for AARC gains. For both scales metric invariance was held for the two subgroups defined by education level and age. For the AARC-50 subscale, but not for the AARC-10 SF, strong invariance was also held for the two subgroups defined by sex. Age, sex, marital status, employment, and university education predicted AARC gains and losses.

Conclusions

The AARC-10 SF and AARC-50 cognitive functioning subscale identify UK individuals who perceive age-related changes in their mental, physical, and cognitive health.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
International relevance of two measures of awareness of age-related change (AARC)
Authors
Serena Sabatini
Obioha C. Ukoumunne
Clive Ballard
Allyson Brothers
Roman Kaspar
Rachel Collins
Sarang Kim
Anne Corbett
Dag Aarsland
Adam Hampshire
Helen Brooker
Linda Clare
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Geriatrics / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2318
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01767-6

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