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Background and Objectives Successful aging is a mainstay of the gerontological literature, but it is not without criticism, including the often-limited way that it is studied and measured as well as the exclusion of older adults' voices in its formulation and understanding. This study sought to address these issues through a qualitative investigation across multiple countries. Research Design and Methods This was a mixed-methods, cross-sectional, exploratory study using an online survey. Nations that received the survey included Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and the Unites States. Participants aged 65 and older were asked to describe what successful aging means to them in an open-ended survey item. Summative content analysis was utilized to examine the responses. Results Successful aging was defined by 1,994 participants, and 6 themes along with 20 subthemes were found. In contrast to conception that successful aging is solely or predominantly related to the absence of disease and decline, the most prominent theme in this study was "active, independent, and engaged" as the hallmark of success. Discussion and Implications Although health and health maintenance were present in other themes, these findings support a multidimensional definition of successful aging that promotes the perspectives of older people. Future research should seek to further investigate the ways in which person-in-environment factors influence definitions of successful aging, including culture, gender and gender identity, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Existing literature highlights notable health and social inequalities for people aging with a lifelong disability and the need for research to better understand how we can support this group to age well. This scoping review mapped existing literature related to "aging well" in people with lifelong disabilities. Research Design and Methods Five scientific databases and gray literature sources were searched for studies related to "aging well" and "lifelong disability" (defined as a disability that a person had lived with since birth or early childhood). Results We identified 81 studies that discussed aging well with a lifelong disability, with most (70%) focusing on intellectual disabilities. Two themes captured existing research on aging well with a lifelong disability: (1) framing aging well with a lifelong disability, which included the ways that people with lifelong disability, their supporters, and existing research frame aging well for this group and (2) supporting people to age well with a lifelong disability, which involves the micro-, meso-, and macro-level factors where research suggests interventions to facilitate aging well could be situated. Discussion and Implications This synthesis highlights how aging well is currently framed in the literature and where interventions to improve aging well in this group could be situated. Literature highlights the importance of considering multilevel interventions to improve aging well. Evidence gaps include the lack of research conducted with groups other than those with intellectual disabilities and the need for more research examining aging well interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, scholars have highlighted the detrimental consequences of technology-based ageism. Digital technology (DT) is commonly discoursed as an opportunity to promote Successful Aging. Nevertheless, the theoretical implications of ageism, DT, and Successful Aging are underexplored. This paper presents a new theoretical model of Digital Engagement and Ageism (D-EngAge), which elaborates on the potential impacts of ageism on digital engagement and participation in later life and explains how ageism may pose a threat to realizing the potential of DT to promote Successful Aging. The D-EngAge model was developed based on a synthesis of findings from 12 recent studies we conducted on the intersection of ageism and DT. Findings were synthesized through Iversen's clasification of four dimensions of ageism, demonstrating how ageism as a multifaceted construct has a reciprocal relationship with digital engagement on the micro- (individual), meso- (social interaction), and macro-levels (discourses and societal practices). Consequently, digital engagement on these levels may exacerbate or reduce technology-based ageism. This forum paper identifies ageism as a barrier to utilizing DT, critically discusses power imbalances, and deconstructs Successful Aging discourses regarding digital engagement. Theoretical implications and recommendations for future interventions and policy measures to mitigate ageism and promote digital engagement and participation in later life are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the philosophy of ambiguity, associated with Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Simone de Beauvoir, provides a helpful framework for understanding the complex and paradoxical nature of old age outside the dominant categories of the "third" and "fourth" ages. Building on philosophical literature in cultural gerontology including that focused on the "art of living" and other approaches that draw on existentialist thought, it suggests "ambiguity" as a theme that has been overlooked in such literature. The advantage of this approach is that it can accommodate contradictory elements and thus underpin an integrated approach to old age. At the same time, in distinguishing between ontological and social dimensions of ambiguity, the conceptual framework offers a new perspective on ageism that can help clarify the distinction between ageism as oppression and the negative aspects of deep old age itself. The paper is structured as follows. After making the case for the value and importance of "ambiguity" as a framework for viewing old age, I set out the key aspects of this philosophy as found in the work of Merleau-Ponty and particularly Beauvoir. I then apply this framework to a discussion of 2 literary memoirs of deep old age, by Diana Athill and Florida Scott-Maxwell, respectively. I argue that the picture of old age that emerges contrasts with the hegemonic discourses enframed by successful aging and frailed old age and offers the possibility not only of a true appreciation of old age but also of a more meaningful life course itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives In the United States, Latino adults are a growing segment of the aging population who will need research-informed interventions to help them age successfully. Arguably, how Latino older adults and service providers understand "positive aging" serves as an important precursor for the cultivation of such interventions. This investigation explored whether Latino older adults' conceptualizations of positive aging aligned with those of service providers. Research Design and Methods We compared how Latino older adults (n = 93) and service providers (n = 45) rated 85 positive aging statements produced by Latino older adults. These 85 items were used to generate a concept map, which displays those items thematically by clusters and overarching regions of meaning. Results We found divergences at each level of the map—statements, clusters, and regions—which illuminate differences between how service providers and Latino older adults think about Latino positive aging. For example, whereas Latino older adults prioritized the cluster containing items related to internal well-being, service providers rated it seventh of 11 clusters. The region comprising clusters related to relationships garnered the highest agreement between groups, but also a notable departure; compared to Latino older adults, service providers rated community and social involvement as less important. Discussion and Implications Understanding such differences can help providers tailor services consistent with the interests of Latino older adults. Future studies should examine the extent to which stakeholders believe various aspects of positive aging are modifiable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Physical capability, social support, loneliness, depression, and anxiety predict life satisfaction in older adults. Currently, no systematic review and meta-analysis have been conducted to investigate the strength of these associations globally. Therefore, this study quantified the strength of these associations., Research Design and Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus. We included observational studies assessing the association between physical capability, social support, loneliness, depression, and anxiety with life satisfaction in adults aged 65+., Results: In total, 10,552 articles were identified, of which 78 studies in 164,478 participants were included in the systematic review and 57 were included in the meta-analysis. Greater life satisfaction was significantly associated with greater physical capabilities (odds ratio [OR] = 2.64; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.01-3.45; p < .001, k = 35, n = 33,732), higher social support (OR = 3.27; 95% CI: 2.59-4.13, k = 20 studies, n = 13,228), reduced loneliness (OR = 3.30; 95% CI: 2.53-4.30, k = 11, n = 33,638), depression (OR = 4.76; 95% CI: 3.10-7.32, k = 24, n = 64,097), and anxiety (OR = 5.10; 95% CI: 2.21-11.78, k = 5, n = 43,368). The strength of associations did not vary between Western and Eastern countries, year of publication, or quality. Gender was a moderator: Loneliness was more strongly associated with life satisfaction in females. Age was also a moderator; the association between social support and life satisfaction weakened with increasing age., Discussion and Implications: Improving the physical capabilities of older individuals, fostering social support, and alleviating feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety may help build life satisfaction in older individuals, which policy-makers and healthcare professionals should prioritize when implementing strategies., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America.)

This paper draws on wisdom and lifespan development research to propose a conception of "wise aging", which may become particularly relevant in very old age as people's capacities for successful aging decline. We propose that three types of balance distinguish wise aging from successful aging. First, wisdom balances one's own interest with a greater good, emphasizing self-transcendence and compassion. Second, wisdom balances control striving with acceptance of uncontrollability. Wise aging involves a realistic awareness of one's decreasing levels of control and one's interconnectedness to and dependence on other people. Third, wisdom acknowledges, regulates, and balances positive and negative affect. Wise aging involves the ability to appreciate and relish the joys of life, but also to accept and embrace more negative emotions and fully support others going through different times., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America.)

Background and Objectives: Although prior research has identified racial/ethnic and gender differences in successful aging (SA), heterogeneity within groups has been little examined. We consequently explore the variety of aging experiences among older Black women., Research Design and Methods: We used the 2010/2012 U.S. Health and Retirement Study, limiting analyses to Black women who completed the Psychosocial Leave-Behind Questionnaire (N = 1,186). We conducted latent class analysis (LCA) using indicators of physical health, psychological well-being, social support/strain, and social engagement., Results: Six SA latent classes were identified and labeled according to their distinctive characteristics: infirm, isolated, taxed, independent, vivacious, and robust. The infirm class had uniformly poor health, while the isolated class was in poor physical health but also lacked social relations. Although both had average physical health and psychological well-being, the taxed class experienced high levels of social support and social strain compared to the high support (and unpartnered) independent class. The vivacious and robust classes exhibited high physical health and psychological well-being, high social support/low social strain, and high social engagement, but vivacious women (23% of respondents) were unpartnered and robust women (16% of respondents) were partnered. The robust class had the highest physical and psychological well-being, and best social relations across all classes., Discussion and Implications: Using nationally representative data, we reveal significant heterogeneity in Black women's aging experiences. Although many face difficult aging experiences, 39% of older Black women fit the SA framework well. Future work should recognize that Black women's aging experiences are not homogenous., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background and Objectives: The aging experiences of military veterans provide critical insights into what successful aging is and means for later life contexts constrained by distinct health and social needs. Can veterans 'successfully' age when they are exposed to so many stressors with serious health and social consequences for later life? Veterans can offer valuable lessons for developing comprehensive approaches to refining successful aging, ensuring inclusivity of different older populations. Building on Rowe and Kahn's idea of successful aging, we utilize the complementary concept of 'active aging' to explore if there are unique factors, characteristics, and interventions that support active aging in veterans, compared to non-veteran populations., Research Design and Methods: A rapid review and evidence synthesis was conducted across 9 databases in medicine, psychology, anthropology, sociology, and public health to search for peer-reviewed articles and research reports., Results: Findings suggest that programs linking health and social dimensions can support the active aging of veterans, namely interventions promoting active physical and cognitive lifestyle as well as social connectedness and engagement. Such programs and interventions help prevent and combat mental and physical health decline and increase quality of life and well-being., Discussion and Implications: Findings have implications for veteran and non-veteran populations more broadly, as people can actively age even when they have unique health and social needs., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America.)

Background and Objectives: For the first time in human history, older adults will outnumber children and a substantial and growing proportion will live alone and lack one or more nuclear family tie. Such unprecedented shifts require a reevaluation of existing models of "successful aging", particularly in terms of long-term care policies., Research Design and Methods: This paper draws on country-level data from multiple publicly available sources (e.g., World Bank, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Our World in Data, and the World Values Survey) to examine cross-national patterns of development, health, demography, resources and policies, and cultural values in low-, middle-, and high-income countries., Results: Although there exists substantial heterogeneity across countries, country-level patterns illustrate the economic privilege of living alone and the dominance of "successful aging" opportunities in high income countries. Cultural values about family reflect standard patterns of economic development, yet friendship emerges as a particularly consistent global value. At the country-level, living alone and health are associated in higher income countries with lower within-country inequality., Discussion and Implications: Aging "alone" is a risk factor in some contexts, yet a marker of privilege in others. Models of "successful aging" are largely unobtainable in lower income countries or high inequality countries, and therefore require a thorough incorporation of global realities, or final abandonment in favor of more nuanced structural perspectives. Long-term care policies that assume the presence of family will yield increasing risk over time across all global contexts and represent a key vulnerability in the future of healthy aging policy., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Since the origin of the Successful Aging (SA) model by Rowe and Kahn, scholars have been working on enriching the content of SA and taking actions to promote this concept worldwide. While most studies primarily focus on older individuals, only a few scholars have considered the environmental aspect of SA. However, the environment, directly and indirectly, enhances older adults' abilities to achieve SA. To measure SA comprehensively and address inequalities among older adults, this theoretical article aims to challenge current SA models by incorporating both individual and environmental aspects and proposing four measurement dimensions: inclusivity of disadvantaged groups, culture-specific adaptation, balance between physical and social environments, and dynamics of the whole lifecycle. Moreover, this article provides examples to illustrate how environment can support older adults especially those who would be defined as "unsuccessful" under the original SA model. Our proposed model would provide theoretical guidance for future research and spark new ideas for policies and programs that support every older adult in achieving SA., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background and Objectives Identifying the experience of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may help develop research agendas, interventions, and other supports to better match individuals' needs. The purpose of this study was to explore the subjective experience of a "typical week" living with MCI to document (a) important activities, (b) barriers to usual activities, and (c) facilitators and supports. Research Design and Methods We conducted remote individual photo-elicitation interviews with 11 community-dwelling adults aged 55 years or older with MCI. Participants each provided 5–10 photographs of daily life taken over 1 week to facilitate a semistructured qualitative interview. Interview transcriptions were coded in Dedoose software and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Participants shared photos and narratives highlighting the important activities in a typical week, in which physical activity, social engagement, spiritual and religious practice, hobbies, and cognitive stimulation were central. Many also shared disruptions to former routines and reduction of activities alongside increased use of new strategies and environmental supports (e.g. calendars, smartphones). Finally, emergent themes centered on disclosure of their diagnosis and reflections about the future. Discussion and Implications Participant-generated images aided data collection and facilitated discussion of sensitive topics with individuals with MCI. Such narratives may illustrate the needs and opportunities to promote well-being in individuals with MCI, including engagement in meaningful and health-promoting activities, assessing barriers to important daily activities, and considering supports that match the experience and needs of those with MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives The development of generativity , or investment in the next generation, has been theorized about for decades. Extant empirical findings regarding generativity's trajectory, however, are mixed. Thus, the current study modeled the development of generative concern , or the extent to which individuals care for the next generation, across adulthood. Research Design and Methods The current study followed an accelerated longitudinal design, modeling generative concern's trajectory across the overlapping ages of 861 age-heterogeneous participants from the 10-year Notre Dame Study of Health & Well-being. Three models were fit to examine whether generative concern followed a linear, quadratic, or cubic trajectory across ages 40–84. The Final Model was tested for birth cohort effects to support the interpretation of developmental change. Results Generative concern followed an age-graded cubic trend across ages 40–84, and no birth cohort effects were apparent in this trajectory. Generative concern was highest at age 40. Although generative concern declined thereafter, it remained relatively stable across ages 50–70. Finally, generative concern declined after age 70. Discussion and Implications Generative concern, indeed, develops over time. The step-like declines across ages 40–84 are informative for both basic and applied researchers in that knowledge of this developmental trend bolsters decade-old theory and informs the optimal timing for intervention work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We need to understand how psychosocial resources develop, identify the influences that threaten their maintenance, detect the circumstances under which these resources are used, and elucidate the factors that support and promote their growth. Three important components to studying the development of resilience include its dynamic nature, context, and timescale of measurement. Dynamic systems (DS) approaches focus on physiological and psychological structures underling the development of resilience by explicitly mapping parameters of change onto their corresponding aspects of functioning. Previous research has captured emotion regulation within individuals, across traits, and in close personal relationships to show how these methods depict dynamic regulation/resilience resources and their influence on outcomes of interest. The use of multi-time scaled data informs how daily emotion regulation is disrupted in the context of stress to produce dysregulation and disease later in the life course. This approach can also reveal how resilience resources counteract these adverse processes and allow others to thrive and be well. Researchers must not only explore short-term variation in constructs of interest, but also explore how these shorter-term fluctuations contribute to longer-term changes. The confluence of DS, contextual influences, and multiple timescales provides an important set of tools to better understand development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Recent research suggests that working longer may be protective of cognitive functioning in later life, especially for workers in low complexity jobs. As postretirement work becomes increasingly popular, it is important to understand how various retirement pathways influence cognitive function. The present study examines cognitive changes as a function of job complexity in the context of different types of retirement transitions. Research Design and Methods We use data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine change in cognitive function for workers who have held low, moderate, and high complexity jobs and move through distinct retirement pathways—retiring and returning to work, partial retirement—compared with those who fully retire or remain full-time workers. Inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (a propensity score method) is used to adjust for selection effects. Results There are systematic variations in the relationships between work and cognitive performance as a function of job complexity and retirement pathways. All retirement pathways were associated with accelerated cognitive decline for workers in low complexity jobs. In contrast, for high complexity workers retirement was not associated with accelerated cognitive decline and retiring and returning to work was associated with modest improvement in cognitive functioning. Discussion and Implications Both policy makers and individuals are beginning to embrace longer working lives which offer variety of potential benefits. Our findings suggest that continued full-time work also may be protective for cognitive health in workers who hold low complexity jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives In this study, we examine the experience of aging and subjective views of what it means to age well among older adults with a migrant background in the Netherlands. We embed the study within the successful aging debate and tackle two of its most persistent critiques: the failure to adequately include subjective views in the definition of aging well and the failure to recognize that the process of aging is culturally determined. Research Design and Methods The research draws on qualitative data collected through eight focus-group discussions with the six largest migrant groups in the Netherlands, namely Indo-Dutch and Moluccans, and migrants with Western, Surinamese, Antillean, Turkish, and Moroccan background. Results The study findings show that in general older migrants experience aging more positively than commonly assumed. Nevertheless, some negative aspects of aging were also mentioned. These together with fears about the future underpin participants' perceptions about aging well. Key aspects of successful aging include remaining healthy, independent, and engaged. Differences between and within groups exist in the meaning given to these concepts and the extent to which other specific aging-related wishes were mentioned. These differences are rooted in participants' experiences of the migration event, employment history, and their current socioeconomic conditions. Discussion and Implications We conclude that the life course perspective is essential in understanding migrants' aging process and their views on successful aging, and suggest that policies and interventions which promote disease prevention and tackle social exclusion will be beneficial for older adults with a migration background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives High rates of migration contribute to the dispersal of support networks across distance. For older adults reliant on informal care, this creates a high risk of increased social isolation. In this article, we highlight the role of communication technologies in maintaining support networks and identities across distance. Building on transnational family research and on anthropological notions of "kinning," we propose that processes of distant support can be better understood through the new concept of "digital kinning." Research Design and Methods A qualitative project conducted in Australia (2016–2019) with over 150 older migrants (55+) born in nine countries comprising ethnographic interviews and observations. Analysis comprised the inductive approach of ethnographic qualitative research and theory building from cases, drawn from grounded theory traditions. Select ethnographic cases illustrate the key dimensions and benefits of "digital kinning" for older migrants. Results Digital kinning practices support the access of older migrants to (i) essential sources of social connection and support, (ii) maintenance of cultural identity, and (iii) protection of social identity, including across distance. Their effectiveness is reliant on access to affordable and reliable digital communication tools. Discussion and Implications Although essential to the well-being of older migrants, distant support networks and the digital kinning practices that sustain them receive little attention from policy makers and health practitioners. Organizations concerned with the care of older people must improve awareness of distant support networks by supporting practices of "digital kinning," ranging from including distant kin in health care plans to prioritizing digital inclusion initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Research regarding the role that cherished possessions play in experiences of aging and daily life has tended to focus on how possessions assist individuals in "looking back" and remembering important experiences, relationships, and identities. Here, we consider how the possessions that older adults keep at home inform their present experiences of aging and also facilitate the ongoing maintenance of aging in place. Research Design and Methods We employed an interpretive phenomenologically inspired research strategy that enabled an in-depth examination of older adult's experiences of cherished possessions. This approach emphasized participants' own situated meanings. In-depth interviews were followed by participatory photo-elicitation interviews and journaling. Results The majority of study participants interacted with cherished possessions to connect with their past selves, but also to cope with times of challenge and change in the present, and in some cases, to cultivate a sense of being able to maintain aging in place. For some older adults, however, possessions disrupted sense of self, place attachment, and daily life. Cherished possessions, therefore, play a significant role in opportunities to maintain aging in place. Discussion and Implications The material culture of home and its relationship to experiences of aging may provide or disrupt opportunities to maintain aging in place. Interventions based on possessions that are easy to access and employ to provide comfort and affirm peoples' preferred relationships to self, others, and the living environment could make a difference to the quality of life for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintenance of functional independence, or the ability to perform daily tasks independently, is a hallmark of successful aging. Healthy older adults are considered functionally independent if they pass a short survey consisting of relatively simple daily activities, including grocery shopping and managing finances. We argue that aging research often has overlooked an important factor for long-term functional independence in a dynamic environment: adaptation for growth via learning new skills. Previous research has focused primarily on compensation and mitigating decline rather than growth. Given that adaptation for growth is at the core of intelligence, resilience, and neuroplasticity, we suggest that functional independence research with older adults could integrate adaptation for growth into the construct, following research on adolescent autonomy and emerging adulthood. After briefly reviewing research on functional independence and compensation in older adulthood, we offer suggestions to push forward gerontological research linking adaptation for growth and functional independence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background and Objectives There is considerable heterogeneity in experiences of aging, with some experiencing greater well-being and adapting more successfully to the challenges of aging than others. Self-compassion is a modifiable psychological skill that might help explain individual differences in well-being and adjustment in later life. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on self-compassion and well-being outcomes in studies of older adults aged 65 and older. Research Design and Methods This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, using databases PsycINFO, Medline, and Embase. The search term self-compassion was paired with terms relating to well-being, psychological symptoms, and adjustment. Meta-analysis was used to synthesize results on the relationship between self-compassion and four outcomes including depression, anxiety, hedonic well-being, and eudaimonic well-being. Results Eleven studies met inclusion criteria for this review. Meta-analysis revealed that self-compassion was associated with lower levels of depression (r = −.58, 95% CI [−.66, −.48]) and anxiety (r = −.36, 95% CI [−.60, −.07]), and higher levels of hedonic (r =.41, 95% CI [.15,.62]) and eudaimonic (r =.49, 95% CI [.41,.57]) well-being. Further, three studies found self-compassion weakened the impact of physical symptoms on well-being outcomes. Discussion and Implications We found preliminary evidence that self-compassion is associated with well-being outcomes in older adults, and that self-compassion may buffer the psychological sequelae of health symptoms in later life. Higher quality studies with uniform outcome measures are needed to replicate and extend these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Negative age stereotypes can become internalized and contribute to lower levels of physical and mental well-being in older adults, including those with serious illnesses. The main objective of this study was to examine the relationships of attitude toward own aging (ATOA) with health outcomes after controlling for resilience among older cancer survivors and comparison subjects without cancer, aged 50 years or older. Methods We examined data in 1,140 adults from the Successful Aging Evaluation (SAGE) study, a structured multi-cohort investigation of community-based adults selected using random digit dialing. There were 219 participants with cancer (excluding skin cancer) and 912 without cancer. ATOA was assessed with the Philadelphia Geriatric Morale Scale, and its relationship with measures of physical, cognitive, and mental health, as well as resilience was evaluated. Results Individuals with cancer reported slightly more pessimistic ATOA than individuals without cancer. ATOA correlated with physical and mental health in individuals with and without cancer. Hierarchical linear multiple regression revealed that ATOA contributed significantly to the prediction of physical and mental health after controlling for socio-demographic variables and resilience. Discussion and Implications Higher levels of positive ATOA appear to be a protective factor for health in older adults, including those with cancer. Interventions that provide education about positive aspects of aging, modify negative automatic thoughts, and promote optimism may be useful for increasing ATOA and thereby improving physical and mental health in older adults, especially those with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The juxtaposition of a young city-state showing relative maturity as a rapidly aging society suffuses the population aging narrative in Singapore and places the "little red dot" on the spotlight of international aging. We first describe population aging in Singapore, including the characteristic events that shaped this demographic transition. We then detail the health care and socioeconomic ramifications of the rapid and significant shift to an aging society, followed by an overview of the main aging research areas in Singapore, including selected population-based data sets and the main thrust of leading aging research centers/institutes. After presenting established aging policies and programs, we also discuss current and emerging policy issues surrounding population aging in Singapore. We aim to contribute to the international aging literature by describing Singapore's position and extensive experience in managing the challenges and maximizing the potential of an aging population. We hope that similar graying populations in the region will find the material as a rich source of information and learning opportunities. Ultimately, we aspire to encourage transformative collaborations—locally, regionally, and internationally—and provide valuable insights for policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Little is known about humor and purpose in life in people with dementia. Although having a sense of humor is typically associated with positive psychological outcomes, recent evidence suggests that outcomes may vary depending on whether the humor being used is adaptive versus maladaptive. The goal of this study was to determine whether humor styles are predictive of purpose in life in people with dementia. Methods Questionnaires were verbally administered to people with mild-to-moderate dementia to measure humor styles and purpose in life. Results Adaptive humor styles were associated with purpose in life whereas maladaptive humor styles were not. Discussion Having a sense of humor in dementia may be associated with a stronger sense of purpose in life, but it depends on the type of humor used. Results are discussed in the context of understanding the role of humor in the daily lives of people with dementia and implications for care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives This qualitative study applied a resilience perspective to socioeconomic inequalities in the functioning of older adults. We aimed to gain insight into how some older adults managed to age successfully despite having a low socioeconomic position (SEP) throughout their lives. Research Design and Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 resilient adults over the age of 79 years participating in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Participants were defined as resilient on the basis of having a low lifetime SEP and favorable trajectories of physical, mental, and social functioning. Grounded Theory coding techniques were applied to identify themes reflecting distinct ways in which participants dealt with what they indicated were the most significant adversities in their lives. The analysis focused on experiences linked to socioeconomic conditions. Results Six themes reflecting psychological, behavioral, and social factors were derived from the data: drawing support from social contacts; investing in younger generations; taking actions to manage or improve socioeconomic conditions; putting the impact of a low SEP into perspective; persevering; and resigning oneself to adversity. Discussion and Implications Findings suggest that successful aging despite a low SEP throughout one’s lifetime requires considerable psychological and social resources. In addition, resignation and specific manifestations of generativity are identified as new elements of resilience. These findings may help to reduce the stereotyping of older adults with a low SEP, and nuance the heroic image of resilience as something that is primarily attributable to extraordinary individual abilities or efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the Study: Using an operational continuum of healthy aging developed by U.S. researchers, we sought to estimate the prevalence of healthy aging among older Spaniards, inform the development of a definition of healthy aging in Spain, and foster cross-national research on healthy aging. Design and Methods: The ELES pilot study is a nationwide, cross-sectional survey of community-dwelling Spaniards 50 years and older. The prevalence of healthy aging was calculated for the 65 and over population using varying definitions. To evaluate their validity, we examined the association of healthy aging with the 8 foot up & go test, quality of life scores and self-perceived health using multiple linear and logistic regression. Results: The estimated prevalence of healthy aging varied across the operational continuum, from 4.5% to 49.2%. Prevalence figures were greater for men and those aged 65 to 79 years and were higher than in the United States. Predicted mean physical performance scores were similar for 3 of the 4 definitions, suggesting that stringent definitions of healthy aging offer little advantage over a more moderate one. Implications: Similar to U.S. researchers, we recommend a definition of healthy aging that incorporates measures of functional health and limiting disease as opposed to definitions requiring the absence of all disease in studies designed to assess the effect of policy initiatives on healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The importance of self-perceptions of aging (SPA) for health and longevity is well documented. Comparably little is known about factors that contribute to SPA. Besides individual factors, the context a person lives in may shape SPA. Research has so far focused on country-level differences in age stereotypes, indicating that rapid population aging accompanies more negative age stereotypes. The present study expands previous research by investigating the impact of district-specific population aging within one country on different facets of SPA. Research Design and Methods: Based on a large representative survey in Germany, the study investigates changes in SPA as ongoing development as well as the SPA of physical loss over a 12-year period in adults aged 40+. The study uses several indicators of population aging (e.g., population development, average age, greying index), to identify four clusters differing in their pace of population aging. Based on three-level latent change models, these clusters were compared in their impact on changes in SPA. Results: Compared to districts with an average rate of population aging, the study shows that persons living in regions with a fast population aging rate (C1) hold more negative SPA in both facets (ps = .01). Districts with slow population aging (C2) have significantly higher SPA ongoing development (p = .03). Discussion and Implications: The study underlines the importance for regional differences in population aging on the development of SPA. In particular, societies should be aware that fast population aging may result in more negative SPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Although the role of place on health is not new, less is known about how place matters for cognition. By investigating both neighborhood and home as the sociospatial realms of older adults, we explore associations between health and place across multiple contexts. We also distinguish objective and subjective measures of place and disentangle their differential associations with cognition. Research Design and Methods: We analyzed place effects on cognition from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N = 2,260) linked to neighborhood characteristics and crime data. We measured place in four ways: (a) objective indicators of neighborhood such as police-reported crime rates and interviewer-reported on presence of disordered conditions on the streets; (b) perceptions of neighborhood by respondents (perceived danger and social cohesion); (c) objective conditions of home (interviewer's report on presence of clutters, odor, and messiness); (4) perceived social support, strain, and threat by household members. The MoCA-SA was used to assess cognitive functioning. Results: Subjective interpretations appeared to have more direct effects on cognition than did objective indicators of neighborhood or home. When examining these living environments together, we found the association between neighborhood and cognition is partially explained by characteristics of home environment, especially perceived social support. We found a buffering effect of social support on cognition for women, not for men. Discussion and Implications: Late life living environments are important contexts for aging. Aging-in-Place interventions should address subjective interpretations of place to reduce future risks of cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflecting the theme of the 2015 Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting, "Aging as a Lifelong Process," this paper examines intersections between aging processes and their environmental context, develops theory regarding constructive developmental processes and their environmental context, and considers potential implications for conceptualizing and creating aging-friendly communities. The first section examines the primary goals of aging-friendly communities, that is, promoting elder well-being. The second section explores the role of environmental pathways in fostering well-being throughout the lifecourse. The third section presents a new Process Model of Constructive Aging that identifies key developmental processes at the intersection of individual and environmental pathways. The final section considers potential implications for creating aging-friendly communities, including ways in which cities and towns can promote the ability of community members to live fully throughout their lives, and identifies some key conceptual and empirical challenges affecting the future of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the Study: With increasing longevity in industrialized populations, there is growing interest in what defines "successful aging" (SA). Various SA measures have been proposed but no consensus has been reached and many have been criticized for not representing the views and priorities of older people. We consider whether the Rowe-Kahn SA model captures older individual's perceptions of their own health and aging. Methods: Using two cohorts of 886 and 483 men and women from the West of Scotland Twenty-07 Study, aged around 57 and 76, respectively, we explored associations between Rowe-Kahn SA dimensions (absence of disease/disability; good physical/cognitive functioning; good interpersonal/productive social engagement) and four aspects of self-rated health and satisfaction (current general health; health for age; satisfaction with health; satisfaction with life). Results: Respondents' self-rated health and satisfaction was generally good but few had all six Rowe-Kahn dimensions positive, the conventional definition of SA. All individual positive SA dimensions were associated with better self-rated health and satisfaction. This was consistent across age, gender, manual/nonmanual occupations, and personality. The prevalence of good self-rated health and satisfaction increased with increasing numbers of positive SA dimensions. Implications: The Rowe-Kahn model provides a functional definition of SA. Future work on ageing should include all Rowe-Kahn dimensions and consider SA as a continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the extent to which the successful aging discourse has accomplished Rowe and Kahn's (1998) goal of combating ageism by (a) eradicating the narrative of decline and burden, and highlighting the positive aspects of aging; and (b) emphasizing individuals' ability to age successfully. To investigate this, I first situate ageism in a framework of age relations. Design and Methods: Using a qualitative approach, I analyze data generated from semistructured, in-depth interviews conducted among a diverse sample of 19 middle-aged men and women. Respondents were asked about what successful aging means to them, as well as their perceptions of their own aging, and old age. Results: Respondents are familiar with the notion of successful aging, and they believe that they can and should achieve this. However, rather than easing ageism, they experience the mandate to age successfully as a source of tension as they simultaneously realize that it is outside their control. They express continued fears of aging; and they implicitly blame themselves or others who fail to age successfully. Their comments suggest that, rather than supplanting the discourse of decline, the successful aging narrative coexists with it. Implications: By not challenging the age relations that denigrate differences, the successful aging framework does not eliminate ageism and might even increase it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the Study: Little research has examined factors that contribute to the formation of attitudes toward one’s own aging. The current study aimed to examine personality as defined by the Five-Factor model of personality as an antecedent of attitudes, while taking into account demographic and health factors known to be relevant to such attitudes. Design and Methods: Participants aged 60 years or older (N = 421) were part of a longitudinal study of health and wellbeing in Australia, and completed a postal survey comprising measures of personality, the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire, the SF-12 health survey, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Results: Higher levels of neuroticism were associated with less positive attitudes toward old age as a time of psychological growth, and higher extraversion and agreeableness were significant predictors of less negative attitudes toward psychosocial loss. Baseline measures of self-reported mental and physical health, as well as change in those scores, also made significant contributions to attitudes toward aging. Implications: Personality was a significant antecedent of attitudes towards aging, as were mental and physical health. The data highlight the role of potentially modifiable factors, such as mental and physical health. If these factors act as resources that shape an individual's attitudes during the aging process, then one potential foundation for holding positive attitudes to aging is to maintain physical and mental health. This requires interventions and policies that are effective in encouraging health-promoting behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the Study: Against the context of a rapidly aging population, the theme of senescence has been figuring increasingly prominently in contemporary German theater. This paper discusses the depiction of old age in one notable example, Theresia Walser's King Kong's Daughters, a hugely successful black comedy set in a nursing home. Design and Methods: This paper takes an interdisciplinary approach in its analysis of Walser's play, drawing not just on drama and theater studies, but also on performance, film, and cultural studies as well as the sociology and psychology of aging. Results: King Kong's Daughters might seem to be pervaded with negative ageist stereotypes. It is argued here, however, that Walser skillfully exploits the special formal qualities of theatrical performance—in particular, its liveness, corporeality, and communality—to illuminate both what it is like to be old and what it is like to care for the elderly in today's world. Implications: Given demographic developments, senescence seems set to increasingly inform the themes, motifs, and characters of theater in Germany and beyond. Paying closer attention to how old age is invoked on the contemporary stage can generate insights that are not only of interest to theater scholars, but are also of value to gerontologists and age scholars more generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the Study: The aim of this study was to make a qualitative comparison of experiences of being in very old people with subsyndromal depression (SSD), in relation to the experiences of very old people with syndromal depression or nondepression. Through investigation and deeper understanding of the interface between depressive disease and normal aging, clinicians might give more accurate prevention or treatment to those very old persons who need such help. Design and Methods: Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted for 27 individuals of 87-88 years of age, who were categorized in the 3 strata of nondepressive, SSD, and syndromal depression. Transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis within each stratum and later with a comparison between the strata. Results: The content analysis resulted in 4 themes in people with SSD, as defined by a self-report depression screening instrument, giving a comprehensive picture of SSD in very old people, and also showed qualitative differences between the SSD, syndromal depression, and nondepressive groups. A main finding was that SSD differs qualitatively from syndromal depression but not clearly from nondepression. Implications: The results might indicate that SSD in very old people is not related to pathology but to normal aging, even though the condition correlates with negative health parameters. Overlooking certain psychosocial aspects of living in the very old may pose a risk of both underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis in the spectrum of depressive disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study was to analyze the range of critiques of successful aging models and the suggestions for improvement as expressed in the social gerontology literature. Design and Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review using the following criteria: journal articles retrieved in the Abstracts in Social Gerontology, published 1987–2013, successful aging/ageing in the title or text (n = 453), a critique of successful aging models as a key component of the article. Sixty-seven articles met the criteria. Qualitative methods were used to identify key themes and inductively configure meanings across the range of critiques. Results: The critiques and remedies fell into 4 categories. The Add and Stir group suggested a multidimensional expansion of successful aging criteria and offered an array of additions. The Missing Voices group advocated for adding older adults’ subjective meanings of successful aging to established objective measures. The Hard Hitting Critiques group called for more just and inclusive frameworks that embrace diversity, avoid stigma and discrimination, and intervene at structural contexts of aging. The New Frames and Names group presented alternative ideal models often grounded in Eastern philosophies. Implications: The vast array of criteria that gerontologists collectively offered to expand Rowe and Kahn’s original successful model is symptomatic of the problem that a normative model is by definition exclusionary. Greater reflexivity about gerontology’s use of “successful aging” and other normative models is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose of the Study: Most understandings of successful aging are developed within a heteronormative cultural framework, leading to a dearth of theoretical and empirical scholarship relevant to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) older adults. This study explores the experiences of transgender persons who contemplate or pursue a gender transition in later life in order to develop culturally diverse conceptualizations of health and wellness in older age. Design and Methods: Using the extended case method, in-depth interviews were conducted with male-to-female-identified persons (N = 22) who have seriously contemplated or pursued a gender transition past the age of 50. In addition, 170hr of participant observation was carried out at 3 national transgender conferences generating ethnographic field notes on the topics of aging and gender transitions in later life. Results: Interpretive analyses suggest that many transgender older adults experience challenges to their gender identities that put their emotional and physical well-being at risk. Contemporary queer theory is used to understand these experiences and argue that greater attention to experiences of queer “failure” and negotiating “success on new terms” may be integral aspects of growth and development for transgender older adults. Implications: The Baby Boom generation is aging in a post-Stonewall, LGBTQ civil rights era, yet gerontology’s approach to gender and sexual identity has largely been formulated from a heteronormative perspective. A framework for understanding older transgender persons’ experiences informed by queer theory offers a new orientation for conceptualizing successful aging in the lives of marginalized gender and sexual minorities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose of the Study: To examine the influence of mastery, physical activity levels, and subsequent trajectories of domains of functional health across the adult life course. Design and Methods: We examined 8-year trajectories of physical functioning (handgrip strength) and functional health (physical [RAND PHC12], psychological [RAND MHC12], and cognitive [processing speed]) in a large Australian sample (n = 7,485 at baseline) of 3 cohorts (20–24, 40–44, and 60–64 years). Within- and between-person indirect effects of physical activity on the relationship between mastery and health were examined using multilevel structural equation models. Results: Mastery was positively related to within-person change in physical and psychological health for all cohorts, and processing speed for the 60s. Between-person mastery was positively associated with all health domains across all cohorts. Physical activity indirectly influenced the between-person relationships between mastery and handgrip strength, physical health, and psychological health in all cohorts, and between mastery and processing speed for the 60s. Implications: Psychological resources are important mechanisms for functional health as they may drive adaptive behaviors such as physical activity. The within-person association connecting mastery with physical and psychological health trajectories provides promise for interventions that foster or improve a sense of mastery. The findings contribute to the understanding of complex relationships between personal resources and behaviors that aid in successful aging across the life span. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose of the Study: This article investigates lay perspectives of the concept of successful aging in young, middle-aged, and older adults from 2 cultures, the United States and Germany, to potentially guide the development of scientific theories of successful aging. The empirical findings are embedded in a comprehensive overview of theories of successful aging and life-span development and offer implications for theory development. Design and Methods: Two samples of young, middle-aged, and older adults from the United States (N = 151) and Germany (N = 155) were asked about definitions and determinants of successful aging. Codes were developed to capture common themes among the answers, resulting in 16 categories. Results: Themes mentioned included resources (health, social), behaviors (activities), and psychological factors (strategies, attitudes/beliefs, well-being, meaning). There were striking similarities across countries, age, and gender. Health and Social Resources were mentioned most frequently, followed by Activities/Interests, Virtues/Attitudes/Beliefs, Well-being, and Life management/Coping. Age differences were limited to Growth/Maturation and Respect/Success, and gender differences were limited to Social Resources and Well-being. Educational and cultural effects were limited to psychological factors and Education/Knowledge, which were more often mentioned by U.S. participants and individuals with more education. Implications: Young, middle-aged, and older lay persons from the United States and Germany have quite similar concepts of successful aging, which they view in far more multidimensional terms than do established scientific theories (Rowe & Kahn, 1998). Given evidence that factors mentioned by laypeople do promote successful aging, considering them in more comprehensive theoretical models may enhance our understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article is a critique of the successful aging (SA) paradigm as described in the Rowe and Kahn book, Successful Aging (1998). The major point of this article is that two key ideas in the book may be understood as consonant with neoliberalism, a social perspective that came into international prominence at the same time the SA paradigm was initially promoted. These two key ideas are (a) the emphasis on individual social action applied to the nature of the aging experience and (b) the failure to provide a detailed policy agenda for the social and cultural change being promoted and, particularly, for older adults who may be left behind by the approach to change the book suggests. The article provides no evidence for a direct connection between SA and neoliberalism, but rather shows how similarities in their approaches to social change characterize both of them. In sum, the article shows (a) how the implicit social theory developed in the book, in a manner similar to neoliberalism, elevates the individual as the main source of any changes that must accompany the SA paradigm and (b) the focus on SA as individual action does not provide for those older adults who do not or will not age “successfully.” This, we conclude, implicitly sets up a two-class system of older adults, which may not be an optimal means of addressing the needs of all older adults. The article also reviews a number of studies about SA and shows how these, too, may emphasize its similarities to neoliberalism and other issues that the SA paradigm does not adequately address. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose of the Study: This research integrates successful aging and developmental adaptation models to empirically define the direct and indirect effects of 2 distal (i.e., education and past life experiences) and 5 proximal influences (i.e., physical functioning, cognitive functioning, physical health impairment, social resources, and perceived economic status) on subjective well-being. The proximal influences involved predictors outlined in most extant models of successful aging (e.g., Rowe & Kahn, 1998 [Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1998). Successful aging. New York: Pantheon Books.]). Our model extends such models by including distal impact as well as interactions between distal and proximal impacts. Design and Methods: Data were obtained from 234 centenarians and 72 octogenarians in the Georgia Centenarian Study. Structural equation modeling was conducted with Mplus 6.1. Results: Results showed significant direct effects of physical health impairment and social resources on positive aspects of subjective well-being among oldest-old adults. We also found significant indirect effects of cognitive functioning and education on positive affect among oldest-old adults. Social resources mediated the relationship between cognitive functioning and positive affect; and cognitive functioning and social resources mediated the relationship between education and positive affect. In addition, physical health impairment mediated the relationship between cognitive functioning and positive affect; and cognitive functioning and physical health impairment mediated the relationship between education and positive affect. Implications: Integrating 2 different models (i.e., successful aging and developmental adaptation) provided a comprehensive view of adaptation from a developmental perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose of the Study: This paper addresses the debate about the use of the term “successful aging” from a humanistic, rather than behavioral, perspective. It attempts to uncover what success, a term frequently associated with aging, is: how can it be defined and when did it first come into use? In this paper, we draw from a number of humanistic perspectives, including the historical and linguistic, in order to explore the evolution of the term “success.” We believe that words and concepts have deep implications for how concepts (such as aging) are culturally and historically perceived. Design and Methods: We take a comparative approach, turning to the etymological roots of this term in British, French, and German literature. According to the earliest entries of the term in the Oxford English Dictionary, events can have good or bad success. Another definition marks success as outcome oriented. Results: Often used in the context of war, religion, and medicine, the neutral, but often negative, use of “success” in literature of the Renaissance demonstrates the tensions that surround the word, and suggests that success is something to be approached carefully. Implications: Ignoring the ambiguous origins of success erases the fact that aging in earlier centuries echoes much of the same ambivalence with which many people discuss it today. Attending to the origins of success can help gerontologists understand the humanistic tradition behind their inquiry into what successful aging means today. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose of the Study: Everyone wants to age successfully; however, the definition and criteria of successful aging remain vague for laypersons, researchers, and policymakers in spite of decades of research on the topic. This paper highlights work of scholars who made significant theoretical contributions to the topic. Design and Methods: A thorough review and evaluation of the literature on successful aging was undertaken. Results: Our review includes early gerontological definitions of successful aging and related concepts. Historical perspectives reach back to philosophical and religious texts, and more recent approaches have focused on both process- and outcome-oriented models of successful aging. We elaborate on Baltes and Baltes’ theory of selective optimization with compensation [Baltes, P. B., & Baltes, M. M. (1990a). Psychological perspectives on successful aging: The model of selective optimization with compensation. In P. B. Baltes & M. M. Baltes (Eds.), Successful aging: Perspectives from the behavioral sciences (pp. 1–34). United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press], Kahana and Kahana’s preventive and corrective proactivity model [Kahana, E., & Kahana, B. (1996). Conceptual and empirical advances in understanding aging well through proactive adaptation. In V. Bengtson (Ed.), Adulthood and aging: Research on continuities and discontinuities (pp. 18–40). New York: Springer], and Rowe and Kahn’s model of successful aging [Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1998). Successful aging. New York: Pantheon Books], outlining their commonalities and differences. Additional views on successful aging emphasize subjective versus objective perceptions of successful aging and relate successful aging to studies on healthy and exceptional longevity. Implications: Additional theoretical work is needed to better understand successful aging, including the way it can encompass disability and death and dying. The extent of rapid social and technological change influencing views on successful aging also deserves more consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose of the Study: This article critiques Rowe and Kahn’s conceptualization of successful aging using tenets of the life course perspective. Design and Methods: A review and synthesis of the literature on successful aging and studies that use a life course perspective. Results: We draw on life course principles that view development as a dynamic lifelong process, embedded in historical time and place, and influenced by the web of relationships individuals are linked to, as well as more distal social structural factors. This discussion questions the relatively static nature of Rowe and Kahn’s successful aging model, its emphasis on personal control over one’s later-life outcomes, and neglect of historical and cultural context, social relationships, and structural forces in influencing later-life functioning. Implications: Caution in using the model in its current formulation is needed, and we promote thinking about how successful aging can better align with micro- and macrolevel issues through utilization of a life course perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose of the Study: Aging successfully entails good physical and cognitive health, as well as ongoing participation in social and productive activity. This study hones in on participation in productive activity, a factor that makes an important contribution to successful aging. One conceptual model of productive activity in later life specifies the antecedents and consequences of productivity. This study draws on that micro-level model to develop a corresponding macro-level model and assesses its utility for examining the predictors of and explaining the relationships between one form of productivity (labor force participation rates) and one aspect of well-being (average life expectancy) among males and females. Design and Methods: Random effects regression models and path analysis were used to analyze cross-national longitudinal data for 24 high-income Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries at seven time points (1980–2010; 168 observations total). Results: OECD countries with higher labor force participation rates among older workers have higher life expectancies. Labor force participation mediates the effects of gross domestic product per capita on male and female life expectancy, and it mediates the effect of self-employment rate for men, but it acts as a suppressor with regard to the effect of public spending on male and female life expectancy. Implications: A well-known micro-level model of productive activity can be fruitfully adapted to account for macro-level cross-national variation in productivity and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are a health disparate population as identified in Healthy People 2020. Yet, there has been limited attention to how LGBT older adults maintain successful aging despite the adversity they face. Utilizing a Resilience Framework, this study investigates the relationship between physical and mental health-related quality of life (QOL) and covariates by age group. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of LGBT adults aged 50 and older (N = 2,560) was conducted by Caring and Aging with Pride: The National Health, Aging, and Sexuality Study via collaborations with 11 sites across the U.S. Linear regression analyses tested specified relationships and moderating effects of age groups (aged 50–64; 65–79; 80 and older). Results: Physical and mental health QOL were negatively associated with discrimination and chronic conditions and positively with social support, social network size, physical and leisure activities, substance nonuse, employment, income, and being male when controlling for age and other covariates. Mental health QOL was also positively associated with positive sense of sexual identity and negatively with sexual identity disclosure. Important differences by age group emerged and for the old–old age group the influence of discrimination was particularly salient. Implications: This is the first study to examine physical and mental health QOL, as an indicator of successful aging, among LGBT older adults. An understanding of the configuration of resources and risks by age group is important for the development of aging and health initiatives tailored for this growing population. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A key concept driving the field of both clinical and applied gerontology is that of personal control. Seminal work conducted in the late 1970s to early 1980s by Ellen Langer and Judith Rodin, who examined the effect of choice and enhanced responsibility on older adults, not only contributed to the discussion of the relevance of control in contemporary theories and practices of aging but also aided in the development of today’s philosophy of how to serve and care for older adults in ways that are passionate, humanistic, and empowering. In their early research, residents at a nursing home were randomly assigned to 2 groups: 1 group was told they could arrange their furniture as they wanted, go where they wanted, spend time with whom they wanted, and so forth and were given a plant to care for; the other group was told that the staff was there to take care of and help them, including watering a plant given to each of them. During this study, and 18 months later, residents who were given control and personal responsibility had improved health; among those for whom control had not changed, a greater proportion had died. Since these original studies, research has continued to support the need for personal control as we age. This paper presents a brief overview of literature informed by Langer and Rodin’s seminal findings, as well as the role of control to theory, policy, and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The latter part of the 20th century was a period characterized by a fundamental transition in scholarship on activity and the aging process. Theory emphasizing the inevitable decline of human capacity was gradually replaced with concepts stressing positive, multidimensional views of aging. In this article, we highlight the key contributors and trace the origins and overlapping themes of successful aging, productive aging, and civic engagement in later life: 3 examples of scholarship representing a “positive” gerontology. Rowe and Kahn’s model of successful aging highlights the interplay between social engagement with life, health, and functioning for a positive aging experience. Productive aging, led by Robert Butler, recognizes the previously underappreciated participation of older adults in activities such as volunteering, paid work, and caregiving, and generates interest in the individual and societal barriers to and benefits of participation. Civic engagement in later life raises public awareness about the need to involve older adults in the community, creates opportunities for participation, and generates further interest in the mutual benefit of participation for community beneficiaries and participants. Successful aging, productive aging, and civic engagement represent important contributions to the field of gerontology through applications to policy, advocacy, and theory development. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The historical roots of gerontology date to a time when old age was characterized as physical and mental decline. Nonetheless, Metchnikoff questioned the inevitability of this decline, believing that quality of life could be improved by broadening our understanding of the science of aging, a multifaceted concept that extends well beyond the biological science interpretation so prevalent in gerontology’s history. This article examines foundational gerontological theories in an effort to unravel complex interactions that constitute physiological aging processes, the psychological manifestations of individual adaptation, and the importance of social and spiritual relationships in aging successfully. Evaluating these theories through an interdisciplinary lens will benefit scholars, researchers, and aging services professionals because it offers opportunities to extend gerontological concepts from theory to development of models that can ultimately be applied in common practice to promote successful aging, regardless of one’s physical or cognitive health status. To that end, we propose the Spectrum Model of Aging. Utilizing components of game theory, we believe it offers a synergistic approach to improving quality of later life and thus promises to move the field of gerontology beyond disciplinary boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: Previous research on psychosocial adaptation of sensory-impaired older adults has focused mainly on only one sensory modality and on a limited number of successful aging outcomes. We considered a broad range of successful aging indicators and compared older adults with vision impairment, hearing impairment, and dual sensory impairments and without sensory impairment. Design and Methods: Data came from samples of severely visually impaired (VI; N = 121), severely hearing-impaired (HI; N = 116), dual sensory-impaired (DI; N = 43), and sensory-unimpaired older adults (UI; N = 150). Participants underwent a wide-ranging assessment, covering everyday competence, cognitive functioning, social resources, self-regulation strategies, cognitive and affective well-being, and 4-year survival status (except the DI group). Results: The most pronounced difference among groups was in the area of everyday competence (lowest in VI and DI). Multigroup comparisons in latent space revealed both similar and differing relationship strengths among health, everyday competence, social resources, self-regulation, and overall well-being, depending on sensory status. After 4 years, mortality in VI (29%) and HI (30%) was significantly higher than in UI (20%) at the bivariate level, but not after controlling for confounders in a multivariate analysis. Implications: A multidimensional approach to the understanding of sensory impairment and psychosocial adaptation in old age reveals a complex picture of loss and maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether childhood misfortune reduces the likelihood of being disease free in adulthood. Design and Methods: This article used a sample of 3,000+ American adults, aged 25–74, who were first interviewed in 1995 and reinterviewed in 2005. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of avoiding disease at the first wave and remaining disease free a decade later. Results: Consistent with a life course view of successful aging, higher levels of childhood misfortune (e.g., abuse, financial strain) are associated with a lower probability of disease avoidance. This pattern was observed across a large set of chronic conditions and in multivariate analyses spanning both waves of the study. Implications: Childhood misfortune has approximately equal consequences for adult disease avoidance as does the combined effect of moderate lifetime smoking and obesity. Efforts to alleviate adverse experiences for children may have long-term benefits for successful aging. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: Expectations regarding aging (ERA) in community-dwelling older adults are associated with personal health behaviors and health resource usage. Clinicians’ age expectations likely influence patients’ expectations and care delivery patterns; yet, limited research has explored clinicians’ age expectations. The Expectations Regarding Aging Survey (ERA-12) was used to assess (a) age expectations in a sample of primary care clinicians practicing in the United States and (b) clinician characteristics associated with ERA-12 scores. Design and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey of primary care clinicians affiliated with 5 practice-based research networks, October 2008 to June 2009. A total of 374 of the 1,510 distributed surveys were returned (24.8% response rate); 357 analyzed. Mean respondent age was 48.6 years (SD = 11.6; range 23–87 years); 88.0% physicians, 96.0% family medicine, 94.9% White, and 61.9% male. Results: Female clinicians reported higher ERA-12 scores; clinicians’ age expectations decreased with greater years in practice. Among the clinicians, higher ERA-12 scores were associated with higher clinician ratings of the importance of and personal skill in administering preventive counseling and the importance of delivering preventive services. Agreement with individual ERA-12 items varied widely. Implications: Unrealistically high or low ERA could negatively influence the quality of care provided to patients and patients’ own age expectations. Research should examine the etiology of clinicians’ age expectations and their association with older adult diagnoses and treatment. Medical education must incorporate strategies to promote clinician attitudes that facilitate successful patient aging. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]