Reliability and validity of the German version of the University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging Scale (UJACAS-G)
Background
Demographic changes call for strategies to promote active aging. The University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging Scale (UJACAS) measures active aging through factors such as willingness, ability, opportunities, and frequency of participation in activities. To enable its use in German-speaking countries, we translated the UJACAS into German (UJACAS-G).
Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the UJACAS-G and examine its correlation with health-related parameters.
Methods
A sample of 60 healthy older adults (65+ years) was assessed. The UJACAS-G was applied in a test-retest design to verify reliability. Additionally, correlations with parameters such as physical function, physical activity, life-space mobility, and health-related quality of life were analyzed.
Results
The Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreement between measurements, with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the total score being 0.829 (95% confidence interval 0.730 to 0.894). Weak correlations were found between the UJACAS-G and parameters of physical function and quality of life.
Outlook
The UJACAS-G proves to be a reliable instrument for measuring active aging in healthy older adults in German-speaking regions. Further studies should investigate its use among chronically ill or mobility limited individuals.
Project lead
PD Dr. Timo Hinrichs (Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel)
Dr. Ralf Roth (Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel)
Project coordination
Lukas Nebiker, MSc (Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel)
Project partners
Prof. Dr. Taina Rantanen (Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences & Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, Finland)
Prof. Dr. Erja Portegijs (Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, Netherlands)
PD Dr. Roland Rössler (Basel Mobility Center, Universitäre Altersmedizin FELIX PLATTER, Basel)
Dr. Fabian Schwendinger (Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel)
Prof. Dr. Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss (Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel)
Duration
2021–2024
Publication
Hinrichs T, Rantanen T, Portegijs E, Nebiker L, Rössler R, Schwendinger F, Schmidt-Trucksäss A, Roth R: Reliability and validity of the German version of the University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging Scale (UJACAS-G). J Patient Rep Outcomes 2024, 8(1):104.
