<p>In Brazil, the number of validated and recognized scientific instruments for clinical evaluation of elderly persons is limited. The Older Adult Self-Report (OASR) is a psychopathological rating scale for persons with more than 60 years, which evaluates adaptive functioning and psychopathology. The aim of this study was at investigating OASR construct and criterion validity evidence for Brazilian elderly. The sample included 345 individuals, between 60 and 94 years of age, which were recruited by convenience. Participants responded to a questionnaire containing questions about demographic and health information, the Mini Mental State Examination, the Geriatric Depression Scale short version and the OASR. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation and discriminant analysis. The results showed significant associations between the scores of OASR’s subscales, correlating with general cognitive ability and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, OASR was sensitive to identify elderly with significant symptoms of depression. In conclusion, the OASR showed adequate evidence of construct and criterion validity for a sample of Brazilian elderly.</p>

Throughout the life cycle, there is a tendency for individuals to increase and/or decrease some personality traits. The present study aimed to compare the magnitude of the Big Five personality traits among adults and the elderly, and to identify the role of sociodemographic variables (age, schooling, sex and marital status) in their personality traits. This cross-sectional study analyzed 151 participants divided into two groups by age. The elderly group was composed of 78 participants between the ages of 60 and 85 years, and the adult group included 73 participants between 30 and 59 years of age. Participants completed a socio-demographic data sheet and the Five-Factor Inventory-short form (NEO-FFI-R). Results revealed significant differences between the groups associated with the factors Neuroticism, Openness, and Conscientiousness. The adult group showed a significantly greater tendency for higher scores in Neuroticism, Extraversion and Openness. In the elderly group, in turn, there was a greater tendency for individuals to score higher on Conscientiousness. In conclusion, adults tended to present elevated levels of factors such as Neuroticism, Openness, and Conscientiousness, while the elderly presented higher Conscientiousness. These results suggest that personality factors are adjusted according to age group and life events.

Este artigo está licenciado sob forma de uma licença Creative Commons Atribuição 4.0 Internacional, que permite uso irrestrito, distribuição e reprodução em qualquer meio, desde que a publicação original seja corretamente citada. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.pt_BR Artigo originAl ISSN 1980-8623 AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate the association of age and education in the performance of cognitively preserved older adults in the d2 Sustained-Attention Test, and to compare the results of different age groups and levels of schooling in this instrument. The sample was composed of 211 adults, 60 years of age or older, who were not institutionalized, and who completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Mini Mental State Examination, the Geriatric Depression Scale (short form), and the d2 Test. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, partial correlations, multiple linear regression and one-way ANOVA.The results of partial correlations and multiple linear regression showed that age and years of schooling demonstrated significant associations with all d2 Test scores, with age being the predictive variable that showed the greatest influence on the performance of the older adults. Comparison of performance in the d2 Test among the six groups according to the distribution by age group (60-69 years and 70 years or more) and by levels of schooling (primary, secondary and higher) showed that younger adults with a higher level of schooling scored better on the d2 Test, suggesting the need for normative data studies for this population. Edad y escolaridad son preditoras de rendimiento de adultos mayores en la Test d2? ResumenEl objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la asociación de la edad y la escolaridad con el rendimiento de ancianos cognitivamente preservados en el Test de Atención Sostenida d2, y comparar los resultados de diferentes grupos etarios y de niveles de escolaridad en ese instrumento. La muestra fue compuesta por 211 adultos con edad igual o superior a 60 años, no institucionalizados, que respondieron a una ficha de datos sociodemográficos, al Mini Examen del Estado Mental, a la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica (versión reducida), y al Test d2. El análisis de los datos fue conducido por medio de estadística descriptiva, correlaciones parciales, regresión lineal múltiple y ANOVA de una vía (one-way ANOVA). Los resultados de las correlaciones parciales y de la regresión lineal múltiple revelaron que la edad y los años de escolaridad demostraron asociaciones significativas con todos las puntuaciones del Test d2, siendo la edad la variable predictora que demostró mayor influencia en el rendimiento de los adultos mayores. La comparación de desempeño en el Test d2 entre los seis grupos según distribución por grupo de edad (60-69 años y 70 años o más) y por niveles de escolaridad (fundamental, media y superior) demostró que los ancianos más jóvenes y con mayor nivel de escolaridad presentan mejores puntuaciones en el Test d2, sugiriendo la necesidad de es...