{"id":297,"date":"2018-12-11T20:17:06","date_gmt":"2018-12-11T20:17:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gerec.fi\/2018\/12\/11\/aktiivisena-vanhenemisen-mittari-ujacas\/"},"modified":"2024-06-19T08:42:26","modified_gmt":"2024-06-19T05:42:26","slug":"active-ageing-scale-ujacas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/research\/activeageing\/active-ageing-agnes-study\/active-ageing-scale-ujacas\/","title":{"rendered":"University of Jyvaskyla Active Ageing Scale UJACAS","raw":"University of Jyvaskyla Active Ageing Scale UJACAS"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n

Assessment Notes for the University of Jyvaskyla Active Ageing Scale (UJACAS)<\/h3>\n
\n

Active ageing is one of the most broadly used terms of positive gerontology. World Health Organization (WHO) defined active aging as a policy goal in 2002 as follows: \u201cActive ageing is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age\u201d (World Health Organization, 2002<\/a>).\u00a0 The same document also states: \u201cthese policies and programmes should be based on the rights, needs, preferences and capacities of older people\u201d. \u00a0The idea was to set a goal for societies. The WHO active ageing definition can be used to guide e.g. comparison of countries regarding how age-friendly they are.<\/p>\n

To make it possible to study active ageing of individual people, we suggest the following definition: The striving for elements of wellbeing through activities relating to a person\u2019s goals, functional capacities and opportunities.<\/i> This definition encompasses four central aspects in the active aging of individuals: their goals (what they want to do), their functional capacity (what they are able to do), their autonomy (perceived opportunities to do the valued activities) and their activities (what they actually do). The expected outcome of active ageing is promotion of wellbeing.<\/p>\n

About UJACAS<\/h3>\n

The UJACAS is a quantitative scale for assessing active ageing among older people. However, we have not provided any exact age limits for older people. The UJACAS has 17 items with four dimension (goals, ability, opportunity and activity) and the score ranges between 0 and 272. \u00a0Response options are worded to suit the item and scored from zero (lowest e.g. least active) to four (highest e.g. most active). Scores are computed by summing the scores of the individual items (response option range 0-4) of each dimension to form a subscale and of the total questionnaire to form the total score. A maximum of two missing items is allowed for each subscale and eight for the total sum score. To correct for missing items, we used the following formulas: (sum score \/ nr. of items responded to) * nr. of items offered. The number of items offered is 17 for each subscale and 68 for the total scale.<\/p>\n

The psychometric and item properties are good and the scale assesses a unidimensional latent construct of active aging.<\/p>\n

Who should use UJACAS?<\/h3>\n

UJACAS can be used in research and practice among older people. It measures individuals\u2019 strive for activity in essential life areas. It describes the active agency of older people i.e. their initiative to act independently and to make their own free choices. \u00a0In gerontology, UJACAS provides us knowledge about positive aspects of ageing. It can also be used to assess the effectiveness of various interventions aiming to promote active ageing.<\/p>\n

Scale development<\/h3>\n

Developing the scale was a multifaceted process in which we placed high importance on participant feedback and on quantitatively analyzing item properties. We started with a draft scale produced by an expert panel, collected a pilot dataset for item response analyses and for testing validity, conducted two focus group discussions and tested the scale\u2019s reliability in a test-retest study.<\/p>\n

Psychometric properties<\/h3>\n

The UJACAS questionnaire comprises 17 items including four dimensions yielding four subscores. The minimum total score is zero and the maximum 272. We validated the UJACAS scores against other indicators of activity and wellbeing and an examination by an occupational therapist. All the indicators of validity and reliability are good. The item analyses showed that the UJACAS subscores capture an underlying single construct that reflects active aging and hence the total score describes active aging in a condensed form.<\/p>\n

Limitations<\/h3>\n

One limitations is that UJACAS may generate socially desirable answers, because active approach to life is generally highly valued in Western societies. Another limitation is that the scale has been developed in the Northern European context and using it in different cultures may require further validation.<\/p>\n

Strengths<\/h3>\n

While we developed the UJACAS we emphasized feedback from participants. User involvement in ageing research has benefits. First of all, older people should be able to influence the research that is being conducted on them. Second of all, the chance of producing findings of relevance for the wellbeing of older people is likely to be higher if they have been invited to contribute their own understandings of the issue. Other strengths include conceptual research and novel definition of active ageing that preceded the scale development and the multi-phased development process.<\/p>\n

Copyright<\/h3>\n

The copyright owner of the scale is University of Jyvaskyla.<\/p>\n

Administration and Cost<\/h3>\n

There is no charge to use UJACAS. To get access to the full scale, we ask you to register as an UJACAS user. In the registration form, please, let us know whether you intend to translate the UJACAS into a different language. The scale is already available in Finnish, Swedish and English. We ask you to give your contact information, a brief description of your study, and to agree to the terms of using the scale. Please, keep track of possible updates of the scale that we will announce at this website.<\/p>\n

Collaborators translating UJACAS are requested to send the translated version to the UJACAS research group (details below). Translations of the UJACAS will be posted on the website that distributes UJACAS for use by other researchers and practitioners.<\/p>\n

On behalf of the UJACAS research group,<\/h3>\n

Taina Rantanen, Professor of Gerontology and Public Health, Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyvaskyla, PO Box 35, Fi-40014 University of Jyvaskyla, taina.rantanen@jyu.fi<\/p>\n

You may register as UJACAS user and download the scale in English<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false,"raw":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\r\n

Assessment Notes for the University of Jyvaskyla Active Ageing Scale (UJACAS)<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n\r\nActive ageing is one of the most broadly used terms of positive gerontology. World Health Organization (WHO) defined active aging as a policy goal in 2002 as follows: \u201cActive ageing is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age\u201d (World Health Organization, 2002<\/a>).\u00a0 The same document also states: \u201cthese policies and programmes should be based on the rights, needs, preferences and capacities of older people\u201d. \u00a0The idea was to set a goal for societies. The WHO active ageing definition can be used to guide e.g. comparison of countries regarding how age-friendly they are.\r\n\r\nTo make it possible to study active ageing of individual people, we suggest the following definition: The striving for elements of wellbeing through activities relating to a person\u2019s goals, functional capacities and opportunities.<\/i> This definition encompasses four central aspects in the active aging of individuals: their goals (what they want to do), their functional capacity (what they are able to do), their autonomy (perceived opportunities to do the valued activities) and their activities (what they actually do). The expected outcome of active ageing is promotion of wellbeing.\r\n

About UJACAS<\/h3>\r\nThe UJACAS is a quantitative scale for assessing active ageing among older people. However, we have not provided any exact age limits for older people. The UJACAS has 17 items with four dimension (goals, ability, opportunity and activity) and the score ranges between 0 and 272. \u00a0Response options are worded to suit the item and scored from zero (lowest e.g. least active) to four (highest e.g. most active). Scores are computed by summing the scores of the individual items (response option range 0-4) of each dimension to form a subscale and of the total questionnaire to form the total score. A maximum of two missing items is allowed for each subscale and eight for the total sum score. To correct for missing items, we used the following formulas: (sum score \/ nr. of items responded to) * nr. of items offered. The number of items offered is 17 for each subscale and 68 for the total scale.\r\n\r\nThe psychometric and item properties are good and the scale assesses a unidimensional latent construct of active aging.\r\n

Who should use UJACAS?<\/h3>\r\nUJACAS can be used in research and practice among older people. It measures individuals\u2019 strive for activity in essential life areas. It describes the active agency of older people i.e. their initiative to act independently and to make their own free choices. \u00a0In gerontology, UJACAS provides us knowledge about positive aspects of ageing. It can also be used to assess the effectiveness of various interventions aiming to promote active ageing.\r\n

Scale development<\/h3>\r\nDeveloping the scale was a multifaceted process in which we placed high importance on participant feedback and on quantitatively analyzing item properties. We started with a draft scale produced by an expert panel, collected a pilot dataset for item response analyses and for testing validity, conducted two focus group discussions and tested the scale\u2019s reliability in a test-retest study.\r\n

Psychometric properties<\/h3>\r\nThe UJACAS questionnaire comprises 17 items including four dimensions yielding four subscores. The minimum total score is zero and the maximum 272. We validated the UJACAS scores against other indicators of activity and wellbeing and an examination by an occupational therapist. All the indicators of validity and reliability are good. The item analyses showed that the UJACAS subscores capture an underlying single construct that reflects active aging and hence the total score describes active aging in a condensed form.\r\n

Limitations<\/h3>\r\nOne limitations is that UJACAS may generate socially desirable answers, because active approach to life is generally highly valued in Western societies. Another limitation is that the scale has been developed in the Northern European context and using it in different cultures may require further validation.\r\n

Strengths<\/h3>\r\nWhile we developed the UJACAS we emphasized feedback from participants. User involvement in ageing research has benefits. First of all, older people should be able to influence the research that is being conducted on them. Second of all, the chance of producing findings of relevance for the wellbeing of older people is likely to be higher if they have been invited to contribute their own understandings of the issue. Other strengths include conceptual research and novel definition of active ageing that preceded the scale development and the multi-phased development process.\r\n

Copyright<\/h3>\r\nThe copyright owner of the scale is University of Jyvaskyla.\r\n

Administration and Cost<\/h3>\r\nThere is no charge to use UJACAS. To get access to the full scale, we ask you to register as an UJACAS user. In the registration form, please, let us know whether you intend to translate the UJACAS into a different language. The scale is already available in Finnish, Swedish and English. We ask you to give your contact information, a brief description of your study, and to agree to the terms of using the scale. Please, keep track of possible updates of the scale that we will announce at this website.\r\n\r\nCollaborators translating UJACAS are requested to send the translated version to the UJACAS research group (details below). Translations of the UJACAS will be posted on the website that distributes UJACAS for use by other researchers and practitioners.\r\n

On behalf of the UJACAS research group,<\/h3>\r\nTaina Rantanen, Professor of Gerontology and Public Health, Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyvaskyla, PO Box 35, Fi-40014 University of Jyvaskyla, taina.rantanen@jyu.fi\r\n\r\nYou may register as UJACAS user and download the scale in English<\/span><\/a>.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopiston aktiivisena vanhenemisen mittari (UJACAS) Ohjeita aktiivisena vanhenemisen mittarin k\u00e4ytt\u00f6\u00f6n Aktiivisena vanheneminen on yksi yleisimmin k\u00e4ytetyist\u00e4 positiivisen gerontologian k\u00e4sitteist\u00e4. Maailman terveysj\u00e4rjest\u00f6 m\u00e4\u00e4ritteli aktiivisena vanhenemisen vuonna 2002 seuraavasti: \u201dAktiivisena vanheneminen on prosessi, jossa optimoidaan mahdollisuudet terveyteen, osallisuuteen ja turvallisuuteen…","protected":false,"raw":""},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":5548,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_fi_post_content":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\r\n
\r\n

Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopiston aktiivisena vanhenemisen mittari (UJACAS)<\/h1>\r\n<\/div>\r\nOhjeita aktiivisena vanhenemisen mittarin k\u00e4ytt\u00f6\u00f6n\r\n
\r\n\r\nAktiivisena vanheneminen on yksi yleisimmin k\u00e4ytetyist\u00e4 positiivisen gerontologian k\u00e4sitteist\u00e4. Maailman terveysj\u00e4rjest\u00f6 m\u00e4\u00e4ritteli aktiivisena vanhenemisen vuonna 2002 seuraavasti: \u201dAktiivisena vanheneminen on prosessi, jossa optimoidaan mahdollisuudet terveyteen, osallisuuteen ja turvallisuuteen el\u00e4m\u00e4nlaadun edist\u00e4miseksi ihmisten vanhetessa\u2026ottaen huomioon kunkin tarpeet, tavoitteet ja voimavarat\u201d.\u00a0 (World Health Organization, 2002<\/a>).\u00a0 M\u00e4\u00e4ritelm\u00e4n tarkoituksena on ohjata yhteiskuntapoliittista tavoitteenasettelua. WHO:n m\u00e4\u00e4ritelm\u00e4\u00e4 voidaan k\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 mm. vertailtaessa eri maiden lakien ja yhteiskuntael\u00e4m\u00e4n ik\u00e4yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisyytt\u00e4.\r\n\r\nTutkittaessa i\u00e4kk\u00e4it\u00e4 ihmisi\u00e4 pit\u00e4\u00e4 m\u00e4\u00e4ritell\u00e4, mit\u00e4 aktiivisena vanheneminen on i\u00e4kk\u00e4\u00e4n ihmisen omassa el\u00e4m\u00e4ss\u00e4. Olemme ottaneet mittarin kehitt\u00e4misen pohjaksi seuraavan m\u00e4\u00e4ritelm\u00e4n: Aktiivisena vanheneminen on yksil\u00f6n pyrkimys aktiivisuuteen omien tavoitteidensa, kykyjens\u00e4 ja mahdollisuuksiensa mukaan. \u00a0M\u00e4\u00e4ritelm\u00e4 ottaa huomioon aktiivisena vanhenemisen nelj\u00e4 keskeist\u00e4 n\u00e4k\u00f6kulmaa: tavoitteet (halu toimintaan), toimintakyky (kyky toimintaan), autonomia (mahdollisuus haluttuun toimintaan) ja aktiivisuus (toiminnan useus ja m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4). \u00a0Taustalla on ajatus, ett\u00e4 yksil\u00f6 oman toimijuutensa avulla pyrkii edist\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n omaa hyvinvointiansa.\r\n

Aktiivisena vanhenemisen mittari (UJACAS)<\/h3>\r\nUJACAS on m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4llinen mittari, jolla tutkitaan aktiivisena vanhenemista ik\u00e4\u00e4ntyess\u00e4. Emme ole kuitenkaan asettaneet tarkkoja ik\u00e4rajoja sille, kuka on ik\u00e4\u00e4ntynyt. UJACAS-mittarissa arvioidaan 17 eri toimintoa nelj\u00e4st\u00e4 eri n\u00e4k\u00f6kulmasta (tavoitteet, toimintakyky, autonomia ja aktiivisuus) ja mitta-asteikon vaihteluv\u00e4li on 0\u2013272.\u00a0 Vastausvaihtoehdot on muotoiltu niin, ett\u00e4 ne sopivat kuhunkin kysymykseen ja numeroitu nollasta (esimerkiksi v\u00e4hiten aktiivinen) nelj\u00e4\u00e4n (esimerkiksi kaikkein aktiivisin). Tulos saadaan laskemalla vastausten pisteet yhteen. Pisteet voidaan laskea kultakin osa-alueelta erikseen ja laskemalla osa-alueiden pisteet yhteen saadaan kokonaispistem\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4. Kullakin osa-alueella saa olla korkeintaan kaksi puuttuvaa vastausta ja koko mittarista voi puuttua korkeintaan kahdeksan vastausta. Jos vastauksessa on puuttuvia tietoja, mittarin pistem\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4n voi korjata vertailukelpoiseksi seuraavan kaavan mukaan: (summa\/vastausten lukum\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4)*kysymysten lukum\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4.\r\n

Mihin k\u00e4ytt\u00f6\u00f6n UJACAS-mittari soveltuu?<\/h3>\r\nUJACAS-mittaria voidaan k\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 ik\u00e4\u00e4ntyvien ihmisten tutkimuksessa ja k\u00e4yt\u00e4nn\u00f6n ty\u00f6ss\u00e4. Se mittaa yksil\u00f6n pyrkimyst\u00e4 aktiivisuuteen keskeisill\u00e4 el\u00e4m\u00e4n osa-alueilla. Mittari kuvaa ik\u00e4\u00e4ntyvien ihmisten aloitteellista toimintaa. Vanhenemistutkimuksessa UJACAS tuottaa tietoa vanhenemisesta positiivisesta n\u00e4k\u00f6kulmasta. Sit\u00e4 voidaan hy\u00f6dynt\u00e4\u00e4 my\u00f6s, kun arvioidaan aktiivisena vanhenemista edist\u00e4vien interventioiden vaikuttavuutta.\r\n

Mittarin kehitt\u00e4minen<\/h3>\r\nMittarin kehitt\u00e4minen oli monivaiheinen prosessi, jossa kiinnitettiin erityist\u00e4 huomiota pilottitutkimukseen osallistuneiden i\u00e4kk\u00e4iden ihmisten antamaan palautteeseen ja osioiden ominaisuuksien m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4lliseen analysointiin. Ensimm\u00e4iseksi asiantuntijapaneeli loi mittariluonnoksen, sen j\u00e4lkeen pilottiaineistossa analysoitiin osioiden, osa-alueiden ja kokonaispistem\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4n reliabiliteettia ja validiteettia. Lis\u00e4ksi teimme kaksi kohderyhm\u00e4haastattelua ja lopuksi testasimme mittarin tulosten pysyvyytt\u00e4 toistomittaustutkimuksella.\r\n

Psykometriset ominaisuudet<\/h3>\r\nUJACAS kyselylomake sis\u00e4lt\u00e4\u00e4 17 eri toimintoa, joita arvioidaan nelj\u00e4ll\u00e4 osa-alueella, joiden summat muodostavat nelj\u00e4 osapistem\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4\u00e4. Kokonaispistem\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4 on v\u00e4hint\u00e4\u00e4n 0 ja enint\u00e4\u00e4n 272. UJACAS pisteet on validoitu vertaamalla niit\u00e4 muihin aktiivisuuden ja hyvinvoinnin mittareihin sek\u00e4 toimintaterapeutin arvioon. Validiteetti ja reliabiliteetti olivat hyvi\u00e4. Osioanalyysi osoitti, ett\u00e4 UJACAS-mittarin antama kokonaispistem\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4 kuvaa aktiivisena vanhenemista tiivistetyss\u00e4 muodossa. Alustavat analyysit viittaavat siihen, ett\u00e4 aktiivisena vanheneminen on suotuisaa hyvinvoinnin kannalta.\r\n

Heikkoudet<\/h3>\r\nUJACAS-mittari saattaa tuottaa sosiaalisesti hyv\u00e4ksyttyj\u00e4 vastauksia, sill\u00e4 aktiivista el\u00e4m\u00e4ntapaa arvostetaan l\u00e4nsimaissa. Toinen rajoitus liittyy siihen, ett\u00e4 mittari on kehitetty Suomessa, jossa vallitsee pohjoismainen kulttuuri, ja k\u00e4ytt\u00f6 muissa kulttuureissa saattaa vaatia uutta validointia.\r\n

Vahvuudet<\/h3>\r\nKun kehitimme mittaria, huomioimme tarkasti osallistujilta saadun palautteen. K\u00e4ytt\u00e4jien osallistamisella ik\u00e4\u00e4ntymistutkimuksessa on etuja. Ensinn\u00e4kin ik\u00e4\u00e4ntyvien ihmisten tulisi voida vaikuttaa heit\u00e4 koskevaan tutkimukseen. Toiseksi, relevanttien tutkimustulosten tuottaminen ik\u00e4\u00e4ntyvien ihmisten hyvinvoinnista on todenn\u00e4k\u00f6isemp\u00e4\u00e4, jos he ovat itse p\u00e4\u00e4sseet vaikuttamaan siihen, mit\u00e4 ja kuinka asiaa tutkitaan. Muut vahvuudet ovat aktiivisena vanhenemisen m\u00e4\u00e4ritelm\u00e4n ja mittariosioiden k\u00e4sitteellinen analyysi, joka edelsi mittariluonnosta, ja aktiivisena vanhenemisen m\u00e4\u00e4ritteleminen my\u00f6s yksil\u00f6tasolla, joka oli pohjana mittarin kehitt\u00e4miselle.\r\n

Mittarin k\u00e4ytt\u00f6\u00f6notto ja kulut<\/h3>\r\nUJACAS-mittarin k\u00e4ytt\u00f6 on maksutonta. Saadaksesi mittarin k\u00e4ytt\u00f6\u00f6si, pyyd\u00e4mme sinua rekister\u00f6itym\u00e4\u00e4n UJACAS-k\u00e4ytt\u00e4j\u00e4ksi. Mittari on t\u00e4ll\u00e4 hetkell\u00e4 saatavilla suomeksi, ruotsiksi ja englanniksi. Jos olet kiinnostunut k\u00e4\u00e4nt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n mittarin jollekin muulle kielelle, kerro siit\u00e4 rekister\u00f6itymislomakkeella. Pyyd\u00e4mme sinua ilmoittamaan yhteystietosi, kirjoittamaan lyhyen kuvauksen suunnittelemastasi tutkimuksestasi ja sen aikatulusta sek\u00e4 hyv\u00e4ksym\u00e4\u00e4n mittarin k\u00e4ytt\u00f6ehdot.\r\n

UJACAS tutkimusryhm\u00e4n puolesta,<\/h3>\r\nTaina Rantanen, Gerontologian ja kansanterveyden professori, Gerontologian tutkimuskeskus, Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopisto, PL 35, 40014 Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopisto, taina.rantanen@jyu.fi.\r\n\r\nRekister\u00f6idy UJACAS-k\u00e4ytt\u00e4j\u00e4ksi ja lataa mittari suomeksi<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]","_fi_post_name":"aktiivisena-vanhenemisen-mittari-ujacas","_fi_post_excerpt":"","_fi_post_title":"Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopiston aktiivisena vanhenemisen mittari (UJACAS)","_en_post_content":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\r\n

Assessment Notes for the University of Jyvaskyla Active Ageing Scale (UJACAS)<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n\r\nActive ageing is one of the most broadly used terms of positive gerontology. World Health Organization (WHO) defined active aging as a policy goal in 2002 as follows: \u201cActive ageing is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age\u201d (World Health Organization, 2002<\/a>).\u00a0 The same document also states: \u201cthese policies and programmes should be based on the rights, needs, preferences and capacities of older people\u201d. \u00a0The idea was to set a goal for societies. The WHO active ageing definition can be used to guide e.g. comparison of countries regarding how age-friendly they are.\r\n\r\nTo make it possible to study active ageing of individual people, we suggest the following definition: The striving for elements of wellbeing through activities relating to a person\u2019s goals, functional capacities and opportunities.<\/i> This definition encompasses four central aspects in the active aging of individuals: their goals (what they want to do), their functional capacity (what they are able to do), their autonomy (perceived opportunities to do the valued activities) and their activities (what they actually do). The expected outcome of active ageing is promotion of wellbeing.\r\n

About UJACAS<\/h3>\r\nThe UJACAS is a quantitative scale for assessing active ageing among older people. However, we have not provided any exact age limits for older people. The UJACAS has 17 items with four dimension (goals, ability, opportunity and activity) and the score ranges between 0 and 272. \u00a0Response options are worded to suit the item and scored from zero (lowest e.g. least active) to four (highest e.g. most active). Scores are computed by summing the scores of the individual items (response option range 0-4) of each dimension to form a subscale and of the total questionnaire to form the total score. A maximum of two missing items is allowed for each subscale and eight for the total sum score. To correct for missing items, we used the following formulas: (sum score \/ nr. of items responded to) * nr. of items offered. The number of items offered is 17 for each subscale and 68 for the total scale.\r\n\r\nThe psychometric and item properties are good and the scale assesses a unidimensional latent construct of active aging.\r\n

Who should use UJACAS?<\/h3>\r\nUJACAS can be used in research and practice among older people. It measures individuals\u2019 strive for activity in essential life areas. It describes the active agency of older people i.e. their initiative to act independently and to make their own free choices. \u00a0In gerontology, UJACAS provides us knowledge about positive aspects of ageing. It can also be used to assess the effectiveness of various interventions aiming to promote active ageing.\r\n

Scale development<\/h3>\r\nDeveloping the scale was a multifaceted process in which we placed high importance on participant feedback and on quantitatively analyzing item properties. We started with a draft scale produced by an expert panel, collected a pilot dataset for item response analyses and for testing validity, conducted two focus group discussions and tested the scale\u2019s reliability in a test-retest study.\r\n

Psychometric properties<\/h3>\r\nThe UJACAS questionnaire comprises 17 items including four dimensions yielding four subscores. The minimum total score is zero and the maximum 272. We validated the UJACAS scores against other indicators of activity and wellbeing and an examination by an occupational therapist. All the indicators of validity and reliability are good. The item analyses showed that the UJACAS subscores capture an underlying single construct that reflects active aging and hence the total score describes active aging in a condensed form.\r\n

Limitations<\/h3>\r\nOne limitations is that UJACAS may generate socially desirable answers, because active approach to life is generally highly valued in Western societies. Another limitation is that the scale has been developed in the Northern European context and using it in different cultures may require further validation.\r\n

Strengths<\/h3>\r\nWhile we developed the UJACAS we emphasized feedback from participants. User involvement in ageing research has benefits. First of all, older people should be able to influence the research that is being conducted on them. Second of all, the chance of producing findings of relevance for the wellbeing of older people is likely to be higher if they have been invited to contribute their own understandings of the issue. Other strengths include conceptual research and novel definition of active ageing that preceded the scale development and the multi-phased development process.\r\n

Copyright<\/h3>\r\nThe copyright owner of the scale is University of Jyvaskyla.\r\n

Administration and Cost<\/h3>\r\nThere is no charge to use UJACAS. To get access to the full scale, we ask you to register as an UJACAS user. In the registration form, please, let us know whether you intend to translate the UJACAS into a different language. The scale is already available in Finnish, Swedish and English. We ask you to give your contact information, a brief description of your study, and to agree to the terms of using the scale. Please, keep track of possible updates of the scale that we will announce at this website.\r\n\r\nCollaborators translating UJACAS are requested to send the translated version to the UJACAS research group (details below). Translations of the UJACAS will be posted on the website that distributes UJACAS for use by other researchers and practitioners.\r\n

On behalf of the UJACAS research group,<\/h3>\r\nTaina Rantanen, Professor of Gerontology and Public Health, Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyvaskyla, PO Box 35, Fi-40014 University of Jyvaskyla, taina.rantanen@jyu.fi\r\n\r\nYou may register as UJACAS user and download the scale in English<\/span><\/a>.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]","_en_post_name":"active-ageing-scale-ujacas","_en_post_excerpt":"","_en_post_title":"University of Jyvaskyla Active Ageing Scale UJACAS","edit_language":"en","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-297","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry","no-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=297"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6711,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/297\/revisions\/6711"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}