FACTORS AFFECTING CONTRASTING RESULTS BETWEEN SELF-REPORTED AND PERFORMANCE-BASED LEVELS OF PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS

We have examined the role of socio-demographic variables, cognitive an d affective functioning, and personality in discrepancies between perf ormance-based and self-report measures within three domains of physica l limitations: motor functioning, hearing and vision. Data are drawn f rom a community-based sample of 624 persons of 57 years of age and old er. The strength of the association between self-reported and performa nce-based levels of physical limitations is moderate. Socio-demographi c variables and levels of cognitive functioning explained some of the discrepancies between self-reported and performance-based vision. With in the domains of motor functioning and hearing, discrepancies were su bstantially influenced by affective functioning and personality. The d iscrepancies may reflect bias in perception or true variation in the e ffect of limitations on daily functioning. Both self-report and perfor mance-based measures seem to complement each ether in providing useful information about physical limitations.