Relationship between performance-based and self-reported measures of lower extremity function in Chinese older women

The objective of this study was to examine the association between self-reported and performance-based measures of lower extremity functioning and the extent to which other covariates, including sociodemographic variables, health indicators, cognitive function, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy, are associated with these 2 measures. There is considerably less information concerning this association in an understudied population of elderly Chinese women. A random sample of 712 women aged 60 years and older was assessed and interviewed by 2 well-trained assessors. We found that the association between self-reported and performance-based measures of functioning was moderate (r = 0.37) and different covariates were associated with these 2 measures, with self-rated health being significantly related to both measures. The findings of this study indicate that the performance-based measure is more likely to be affected by affective and personality factors, while the self-reported measure is influenced by health-related factors. Copyright © 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.