Table 5 Item characteristics and Cronbach’s αs for the two subscales of the AARC-10 SF and the AARC-50 cognitive functioning subscale

AARC-10 SF domain^a

Item-total correlation

Mean

SD

PHYS-

… I have less energy

2.8

1.1

.75

COG-

…my mental capacity is declining

2.1

.9

.77

INT-

…I feel more dependent on the help of others

1.5

.7

.76

SCSE-

…I find it harder to motivate myself

1.7

.8

.78

LIFE-

…I have to limit my activities

1.9

.9

.74

PHYS+

…I pay more attention to my health

3.1

1.1

.78

COG+

…I have more experience and knowledge to evaluate things and people

3.5

1.0

.71

INT+

…I appreciate relationship and people much more

3.8

1.1

.69

SCSE+

…I have a better sense of what is important for me

3.9

1.0

.67

LIFE+

…I have more freedom to live my days the way I want

3.7

1.2

.76

AARC-50 cognitive functioning

Item-total correlation

Mean

SD

COG1 -

…my mental capacity is declining

2.1

.9

.84

COG2 -

...I am slower in my thinking

1.8

.8

.84

COG3 -

…I have a harder time concentrating

1.7

.8

.85

COG4 -

…learning new things takes more time and effort

2.4

1.0

.87

COG5 -

…I am more forgetful

2.2

1.0

.85

COG1 +

…I have more experience and knowledge to evaluate things and people

3.5

1.0

.86

COG2 +

…I have more foresight

2.7

1.1

.83

COG3 +

…I have become wiser

2.6

1.2

.82

COG4 +

…I think things through more carefully

2.6

1.1

.82

COG5 +

…I gather more information before I make decisions

2.6

1.1

.85