THE ASSESSMENT OF ADL AMONG FRAIL ELDERLY IN AN INTERVIEW SURVEY - SELF-REPORT VERSUS PERFORMANCE-BASED TESTS AND DETERMINANTS OF DISCREPANCIES

The impact of three sociodemographic, two cognitive, rico affective, a nd four personality measures on the discrepancies between self-reporte d and performance-based ADL in a sample of 753 frail elderly is studie d by means of multiple regression analyses. Underestimation (i.e., low er self-reported levels of ADL compared to performance-based levels) o ccurs, in particular, among subjects with low perceptions of physical competence and mastery or personal control, and high levels of depress ive symptomatology. In contrast, the role of cognitive functioning and sociodemographic variables in the discrepancies is a minor one. Altho ugh self-report ADL measures are easier to administer and less sensiti ve to nonresponse than performance-based ADL measures, the confounding effects of perceived physical competence, mastery, and depressive sym ptomatology on self-reported ADL should be considered in any applicati on of self-report measures of ADL among frail elderly.