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"Understanding social, economic, and psychological factors are important for promoting elderly health. Rowe and Kahn (1997) described three main components for ""successful aging"" (SA): avoiding disability and disease, high cognitive and physical capacities, and active engagement in one's life. Psychological dimensions (i.e., personality) have not been sufficiently studied yet. However, they could be considered to define SA. This study aimed to determine whether physical, cognitive, social, and personality factors were associated with SA. A total of 2109 participants living at home (53.39% men; mage =75,38±8.11) – from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE dataset release 7.0.0 of 2017) – completed questionnaires measuring physical (mobility, number of diseases, IADL, BMI) and cognitive (memory, executive function) health, social engagement, and personality (Big Five Inventory). These variables were gathered into three distinct blocks: sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex), model’s Rowe and Kahn variables (physical, cognitive, social engagement), and personality. SA was assessed by the Euro depression scale. A correlation matrix was computed to examine the interrelationships between all variables. We then performed linear regression analysis when it was appropriate. A higher level of motor and cognitive abilities correlated with a lower level of depressive symptoms (r=0.34; p

The application of interventions to enhance mobility in ecological settings remain understudied. This study was developed to evaluate the feasibility of training methods in a community centre and to evaluate their impact on mobility outcomes. Fifty-four participants were randomized to one of three 12-week training programs (three times/week): aerobic (AE), gross motor abilities (GMA) or cognitive (COG). Feasibility was evaluated by calculating adherence, feedback from participants and long-term participation. The impact of these interventions on mobility was assessed by comparing pre- and post-program on Timed-up-and-go (TUG) and spontaneous walking speed (SWS) performances. Results showed relatively high rates of adherence (85.1%) and long-term participation (66.7%), along with favorable feedbacks. SWS significantly improved in COG (0.10 ± 0.11 m.s−1; p = 0.004) and AE (0.06 ± 0.11 m.s−1; p = 0.017) groups, and TUG performance was maintained in all groups. Results of this feasibility study demonstrated successful implementation of physical and cognitive training programs, encouraging the development of real-world applications.

Objective The term ‘culinary dependence’ denotes a situation in which someone delegates all or part of their daily meal-related activities to a third party. The present study aimed to explore nutritional risk among older people (≥65 years) with culinary dependence. Method The first survey included 559 people either living at home without help, with help unrelated to food activities, with help related to food activities or living in nursing home. The second survey included 319 people with food help provided by a caregiver, by meals-on-wheels or by a nursing home. Nutritional status was assessed with the Mini-Nutritional Assessment. Sociological background and wellness variables (health, cognitive and mental status) were collected. Results The first survey found a strong association between culinary dependence and nutritional risk. About half of the people who delegated their food-related activities were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition compared with only 4% for people with no help and 12% for people with help unrelated to food activity. According to the second survey, this prevalence varied slightly depending on who the tasks were delegated to (46% for those who had the support of a caregiver; 60% for those who used a meals-on-wheels service; 69% for those living in nursing home). According to multivariate analyses, dependence categories, depressive symptoms and cognitive status were identified as independent determinants of malnutrition. Conclusion Without inferring a causal relationship between dependence and malnutrition, there is a strong need for care structures to take into account the issue of malnutrition when developing services targeting older people.

Resume Depuis une quinzaine d’annees les politiques medico-sociales, en charge des personnes en contexte de handicap, evoluent et enjoignent les professionnels a modifier leurs pratiques pour promouvoir les valeurs d’une societe inclusive. L’accompagnement individualise fait consensus pour repondre a la promotion du pouvoir d’agir et de la coordination des actions menees. Pourtant, faute de nouvelles methodes aptes a structurer differemment l’activite d’accompagnement, les pratiques peinent a s’affranchir d’une gestion de projet en etapes, organisee par une logique de prise en charge. Cet article a pour objectif de presenter une methode originale dite agile, repondant aux attentes actuelles de l’inclusion. Elle permet la conduite de projet en appui sur six principes d’action visant l’operationnalisation des premisses de l’accompagnement. Ces principes d’action garantissent non seulement mobilite et ressources a la situation, mais egalement pouvoir d’agir de l’accompagne et de l’accompagnant.

The aim of this study was to validate a French version of the Grandchildren’s Received Affection Scale (GRAS) and to assess the reliability of this scale. A sample of 285 French emerging adults com...

We investigated the representation grandchildren have of the ideal features associated with the role of grandparents by validating a French version of the Ideal Grandparent Scale (IGS). Two studies were conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the IGS. A sample of 285 young adults (18–25 years old), randomly divided in two subsamples, completed the French Translation of IGS as well as four complementary scales (Grandchildren’s Received Affection Scale, Parental Encouragement Scale, Shared Family Identity Scale, and the CES-D). We tested the factorial, construct and convergent validities as well as the reliability of the IGS. Results coincided with Mansson’s and confirmed the good psychometric qualities of the scale. Getting a better understanding of the qualities associated with the role of grandparents by French grandchildren may provide an overview of the importance of the intergenerational bond.

Objectives The aims of this study were to examine the trajectory of depressive symptoms among older French people, to investigate the role of gender in the developmental trajectory of depressive symptoms and to explore whether the linear increase in depressive symptoms might be accentuated or attenuated at time points during which the older adults’ scores on social support and health satisfaction scales were higher than their individual averages. Methods/materials Data were used from a subsample of older adults living at home who participated in a longitudinal study initiated by researchers from the University of Tours. They were collected at five time points over a 9-year period (T1: 2003; T2: 2005; T3: 2007; T4: 2009; T5: 2011). This study included 707 participants, and multilevel growth curve analysis was used on measures of depressive symptoms, gender differences, social support and health satisfaction. Results Results indicated (1) a significant positive linear effect of age on depressive symptoms; (2) that women reported significantly higher scores of depressive symptoms than men at 63 years old (i.e., intercept) and that this gender difference remained constant across age; (3) that the slope of depressive symptoms appeared to increase at time points during which participants had higher levels of social support and to decrease when they had greater health satisfaction. Conclusion This study provides pertinent information about the change of depressive symptoms in older people living at home and particularly highlights the interest in studying gender, social support and health satisfaction.

Aims and objectives To examine the impact of caregivers' street clothes on people living in special care units (SCUs). We hypothesised that caregivers wearing street clothes would improve residents' relationships with other residents and caregivers and, as a consequence, would improve their quality of life. Background Environmental factors have been recognised as important elements in the care of people with dementia. Among these factors, the importance of the caregivers' appearance and more particularly their street clothes has been raised. Design The Street Clothes study (STRECLO) was designed as a multicentre crossover observational study. Method This study was conducted in two volunteer nursing homes. It involved videotaping residents (N = 24) over a 6-month period: caregivers wore uniform and then street clothes for two consecutive three-month periods. Three outcome measures were observed as follows: (a) behaviours of residents, (b) contents of conversations and (c) proximal interactions between residents and caregivers. The STROBE checklist was used to ensure quality reporting during this observational study. Results When caregivers wore street clothes, we observed the following: (a) greater solicitation and less anxiety in residents, (b) content of conversations between residents and caregivers included more personal and less health information, and (c) more proximal interaction between caregivers and residents. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study which investigated the long-term effects on residents of SCU caregivers wearing street clothes. Our study demonstrated the potential benefit of not wearing uniform on the quality of life of institutionalised people with dementia. Relevance to clinical practice Given the budgetary constraints faced by nursing homes, wearing street clothes for caregivers could be readily applied to clinical practice and represents a promising way to increase the quality of life of dementia residents and their families.

Spirituality is a key concept that plays a role in people’s daily lives. This qualitative study aimed to explore representations and experiences of spirituality in nursing homes. This research incl...

International audience; The aging process is associated with physiological, sensory, psychological, and sociological changes likely to have an impact on food intake and the nutritional status. The present study aimed to explore the heterogeneity of the French older population (>65 years old) using a multidisciplinary approach. More specifically, the study aimed to highlight different typologies (i.e. clusters of individuals with similar characteristics) within the older population. We conducted face-to-face interviews and tests with 559 French older people, recruited from different categories of dependency (at home without help, at home with help, in nursing homes). Clustering analysis highlighted seven clusters. Clusters 1-3 contained ‘young’ older people (

Over the past 40 years, there has been a growing trend for intergenerational initiatives worldwide. Intergenerational programs (IGPs) aim to facilitate cooperation and exchange among different age groups. While most studies highlight the benefits for each generation, the programs and study designs vary widely. We conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature between 2005 and 2015 to: (1) characterize and define the IGPs studied and (2) identify the benefits for school-age children and older people aged 60 years or over. First, 53 articles with defined keywords were collected from online databases. Then, using inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles were selected. These were classified according to methodological quality and were analyzed one by one. The content of the programs varied: three involved artistic activities, three educational activities, one health, three open-ended activities, and one was organized around a citizen’s project. Concerning the benefits of IGPs for children and older adults, some studies highlighted significant differences in positive attitudes, behaviors, confidence, and competence for the children, and significant differences in mental and physical health, and quality of life for older adults. However, it should be noted that those benefits are not systematic. Our findings are discussed in the light of the meaningfulness of the activities and the role of IGPs, organization of the program, and participants’ knowledge of the other generation. Future studies may wish to consider searching for additional variables to further refine our understanding of the benefits for participants.

Objective Self-report measures of depression are highly important tools used in research and in various healthcare settings for the diagnosis of different levels of depression. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is the first and the most popular scale used to screen for late-life depression. It is endorsed by the Royal College of Physicians and the British Geriatric Society (1992). The purpose of the present research was to investigate whether scores on the GDS15 capture depressive mood (i.e. trait depression), depressive affect (i.e. short-term depressive state), or both. Methods For this purpose, a trait–state model (stable trait, autoregressive trait, and state model) was applied to GDS15 scores obtained at four time points over a 6-year period among a sample of community-dwelling older persons (N = 753). This model allows decomposing the GDS15 scores into three different variance components: stable trait variance, autoregressive trait variance, and state variance. Results Our findings revealed a general pattern of a major proportion of stable trait (69%) and autoregressive trait (22%) variance and a very smaller amount of state variance (9%) in the GDS scores across 6 years. Age and gender (i.e. being female) were shown to be positively linked to more stable trait variance. Conclusions Depression, as assessed with the GDS15, should be regarded as a relatively stable and enduring trait construct, reflecting a stable core of a person's depressivity. The negligible amount of state elements in the variation of the GDS15 scores provides evidence that changing the context will not be enough to cause significant changes in depressive symptoms. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cette etude qualitative s’est attachee a decrire les representations des professionnels vis-a-vis du concept de spiritualite afin de mieux cerner son integration dans l’accompagnement. La methodologie retenue repose sur l’organisation de deux focus groups pluriprofessionnels (en institution et au domicile), adjoignant chacun 6 professionnels impliques dans l’accompagnement en soins palliatifs (2 medecins, 5 infirmiers, 3 aides-soignants, 1 psychologue et 1 interne). Une analyse de contenu a permis de mettre en evidence trois themes pivots emanant des focus groups : les representations de la spiritualite des professionnels ; la place qu’elle occupe dans leur pratique et leurs attentes en matiere d’accompagnement spirituel. De par le caractere polysemique qu’elle revet, la spiritualite est un concept difficile a aborder lors de la rencontre avec le patient pour les professionnels. Cependant, tous soulignent l’importance d’assurer un accompagnement global de la personne en tenant compte de l’ensemble des dimensions de la personne, y compris spirituelle et ce, qu’elle soit religieuse ou non. Proposer a l’autre un espace, une presence, une ecoute a cette dimension, si la demande s’en fait sentir, ce sont des attitudes que tendent a suivre les professionnels pour eclairer le cheminement personnel des patients et la mise en sens de ce qu’ils traversent.

Objectives:The objectives of the study were to examine the trajectory of spirituality among older adults, to investigate the roles of gender and religion on the developmental trajectory of spirituality, and to explore whether the linear growth of spirituality accelerated or decelerated at time points at which the participants reported high scores of social support and flexibility.Design:A five-year longitudinal study.Setting:The research used data from a longitudinal study, which follows a non-institutionalized older adults cohort of residents from France. The data used in this paper were collected at three time points (T1: 2007; T2: 2009; T3: 2012).Participants:A total of 567 participants were included in the analysis (59.44% female;Mage= 75.90,SD= 5.12).Measurements:Multilevel growth curve analysis was used measuring spirituality, satisfaction with social support, and flexibility.Results:The results indicated the following: (1) stability of spirituality over time, (2) older women reported higher levels of spirituality than older men, and those who had a religion reported higher scores of spirituality than their counterparts who had no religion (these effects were strong and clinically meaningful), (3) older adults who reported higher levels of social support and flexibility also reported higher levels of spirituality, and (4) the slope of spirituality seemed to accelerate at time points at which participants also had higher levels of social support and flexibility (these effects were rather small but of theoretical interest).Conclusion:The results of the present study help to improve the understanding of the potential benefit of encouraging the spiritual aspects of life.

Introduction et but de l’etude Bien vieillir suppose que soit maintenue le plus longtemps possible une prise alimentaire qui reponde aux besoins nutritionnels du corps vieillissant sans pour autant oublier les besoins hedoniques des personnes. L’avancee en âge amene les personnes a deleguer tout ou une partie des activites culinaires a un tiers. Cette « depossession » alimentaire rend plus difficile l’acces au plaisir alimentaire. Le but de notre etude est de proposer une mesure du plaisir alimentaire pour des personnes en situation de dependance alimentaire et d’etudier les liens entre le plaisir alimentaire et des donnees nutritionnelles, psychologiques et sociologiques. Materiel et methodes Cent-quatre-vingt-dix-neuf personnes âgees vivant a domicile (M = 83,70 ans ± 7,62 ; [65–100] ; 70,9 % de femmes) et dependantes pour leur alimentation (aides pour les courses ou la preparation des repas, service de portage de repas) ont ete recrutes dans le cadre de l’enquete Reussir ecologiquement une nutrition equilibree et sensoriellement adaptee pour senior (RENESSENS). L’echelle d’experience temporelle du plaisir (Gard et al., 2006) comprenant deux types de plaisir (anticipatoire et consommatoire) a ete adaptee au plaisir alimentaire pour mesurer la capacite hedonique des personnes. La version initiale du questionnaire comporte 16 items : 8 relatifs au plaisir anticipatoire et 8 relatifs au plaisir consommatoire. D’autre part, le statut nutritionnel (MNA), l’appetit (SNAQ), le besoin de controle sur son alimentation, les styles de mangeur (viande, dessert, legumes, poisson…), la solitude lors des repas et les symptomes depressifs (GDS) des participants ont ete evalues. Resultats et analyse statistique Une analyse factorielle exploratoire suivie d’une analyse factorielle confirmatoire ont permis de valider une echelle de plaisir constituee de deux dimensions : plaisir consommatoire (5 items) et plaisir anticipatoire (5 items) avec une consistance interne satisfaisante. Nos resultats indiquent une diminution de la capacite a prendre du plaisir a manger chez les personnes âgees. Les deux dimensions du plaisir alimentaire sont liees positivement au besoin de controler son alimentation et a l’appetit. Les personnes qui ont de forts scores de plaisir consommatoire sont celles qui ont le meilleur statut nutritionnel, le moins de symptomes depressifs et qui ne sont pas seules lors des repas. Enfin, les personnes qui se definissent comme aimant les desserts, les douceurs, les viennoiseries et les fruits sont celles qui ont les plus forts scores de plaisir anticipatoire tandis que les personnes qui aiment le pain, le fromage et les plats elaborees sont celles qui ont le plus fort score de plaisir consommatoire. Conclusion Cette etude a permis de valider une echelle de plaisir liee a l’alimentation chez des personnes âgees dependantes pour leur alimentation. Meme si avec l’âge, il semble bien qu’il y ait une perte de la sensibilite a eprouver du plaisir a manger (anhedonie alimentaire) pour autant, nos resultats demontrent que prendre plaisir a manger peut contribuer et encourager une bonne alimentation.

Resume Si spiritualite et religion ont souvent ete utilisees de facon indifferenciee dans la litterature, l’existence d’une spiritualite areligieuse depassant la question de la croyance religieuse se pose. Notre etude a pour objectif de construire et de valider une echelle de spiritualite areligieuse applicable a la population etudiante. La structure unidimensionnelle de l’echelle a ete mise en evidence dans une etude exploratoire conduite aupres de 263 etudiants. Cette structure s’est egalement imposee dans une etude confirmatoire portant sur 259 etudiants. Quant a la coherence interne elle s’avere satisfaisante. Les analyses multi-groupes montrent que le modele est adapte aussi bien pour les hommes que pour les femmes/pour les croyant(e)s que pour les non-croyant(e)s. Enfin, un fort score a l’echelle de spiritualite areligieuse est associe a une forte satisfaction de vie. Cette recherche preliminaire met en evidence les bonnes proprietes psychometriques de l’Echelle de Spiritualite Explicite Areligieuse (ESEA) et semble etre un bon outil d’investigation pour tous les chercheurs et professionnels interesses par la question de la spiritualite.

Nutritional health is an essential component of quality of life among older adults. The aim of this study was to identify the predictors of nutritional status in order to identify both common and sex specific predictive pathways in an aging population. A questionnaire was administered to 464 people living at home aged 65 years and above. Part of the questionnaire contained questions about nutritional status (MNA), depression (GDS), pleasure of eating and demographic characteristics. Structural equation modeling was used to examine relationships between the variables. For both sexes, results indicate that depression and pleasure of eating are related to nutritional status. In addition, different pathways were found between men and women. In particular, while pleasure of eating is affected by depression among aging women this is not the case for men. The implications of the findings for nutrition communication are discussed.

The reciprocal nature of the relationship between depression and personality traits (e.g., self-esteem, neuroticism) is still elusive (e.g., vulnerability and scar models). The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal reciprocal effects between self-esteem and depressive mood in older adults. 757 participants aged 64–97 years assessed 4 times over a six-year period. Cross-lagged models were estimated using SEM. Our findings showed a relative stability over a six-year period of both self-esteem and depressive mood. There were no cross-lagged reciprocal effects between self-esteem and depressive mood over time, thereby rejecting both vulnerability and scar models. It means that self-esteem and depressive mood do not predate each other in old age. These results suggest a developmental phenomenon in which self-esteem and depressive mood follow two parallel and stable developmental trajectories through old age.

This study aimed to observe dementia's role in the relationship between spirituality, quality of life, and depression in aging. The sample included 61 participants between 65 and 98 years old, separated into two groups: participants diagnosed with dementia (N = 31) and control participants (N = 30). There was no significant difference in spirituality between demented and control participants; however, different patterns of correlation were observed between spirituality, depression, and quality of life in these groups. Although the level of spirituality did not differ despite dementia, this pathology would appear to play a role in the relationship between spirituality, quality of life, and depression.

International audience

The Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS) is the only full-scale designed to assess the propensity to boredom. This scale is a theoretical. The aim of the present study was twofold: (a) replicate the factorial structure of the BPS, and (b) examine whether the BPS scores specifically capture trait boredom or are confounded by the state of participants when they complete the BPS. For this second purpose a trait-state-occasion model (TSO) was applied to BPS scores obtained at four time points over a 6-year period among a sample of community-dwelling elderly persons. Our findings showed that the factorial structure of the BPS was not replicable. They also showed that the short-version of the BPS, comprising 8 items, was the best representation of our data. Results from the TSO revealed that only 28% of the variance in the BPS-8 scores were imputable to trait-boredom component. Thus, 72% of this variance were due to both state-boredom (8%) and measurement errors (64%). The utility of this scale was discussed.

Using the dual-process model of assimilative-tenacity (TGP) and accommodative-flexibility (FGA), the study aims to identify trajectories of TGP and FGA over five time points within a 9-year period, explore the relationships between the trajectories of TGP and FGA, and explore if participants from distinct TGP and FGA trajectories differed in indicators of well-being and depression. Latent class growth analysis was used in a five-wave longitudinal design among an older population of 747 participants over 65 years. Results highlight (1) emergence of four trajectories for flexibility (low and increasing, moderate and increasing, moderately high and stable, and high and stable trajectories) and three trajectories for tenacity (low and stable, moderate and stable, and high and decreasing trajectories), (2) that older people belonging to particular trajectories of FGA are not more likely to belong to particular trajectories of TGP, and (3) that participants from the high and decreasing TGP and high or moderately high and stable FGA trajectories were characterized by high score of perceived health, satisfaction with life, and self-esteem and low score of depression moods. These results highlight that the heterogeneity in longitudinal TGP and FGA scores throughout the life span needs to be accounted for in future research.

The study aimed to develop a French version of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-being short version (FACIT-Sp12), in order to provide a self-reported measure for French people in the field of gerontology. The study involving 63 nursing home residents was conducted to evaluate the construct validity, reliability, and convergence validity of the FACIT-Sp12. A confirmatory factor analysis corroborated a three-factor model (Meaning, Peace and Faith) with modifications for two items, also valid among people with cognitive impairment. Subscales showed good internal consistency and are correlated with quality of life and depression. In conclusion, the validated French version is an suitable instrument to study the maintenance and promotion of quality of life in the elderly.

Self-report measures of depression are highly important tools used in research and in various healthcare settings for the diagnosis of different levels of depression. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is the first and the most popular scale used to screen for late-life depression. It is endorsed by the Royal College of Physicians and the British Geriatric Society (1992). The purpose of the present research was to investigate whether scores on the GDSFor this purpose, a trait-state model (stable trait, autoregressive trait, and state model) was applied to GDSOur findings revealed a general pattern of a major proportion of stable trait (69%) and autoregressive trait (22%) variance and a very smaller amount of state variance (9%) in the GDS scores across 6 years. Age and gender (i.e. being female) were shown to be positively linked to more stable trait variance.Depression, as assessed with the GDS

Background previous research has shown that tendencies to tenaciously pursue goals (TGP) and flexibly adapt goals (FGA) relate to well-being of older people. Objectives this study aimed to identify subpopulations of elderly people with different coping profiles, describe change in participants' profiles over time and determine the influence of coping profiles on well-being over a 5-year period. Methods latent profile transition analysis (LPTA) was used in a three-wave longitudinal data collection measuring flexibility, tenacity, depression, self-rated health and life satisfaction among an elderly population over 65 years old. Results three coping profiles were identified. Profile 1 was characterised by participants with high flexibility and tenacity scores, Profile 2 with moderate flexibility and low tenacity scores and Profile 3 with low flexibility and moderate tenacity scores. Results indicate stability of these profiles over time, with Profile 1 being the most adaptive in terms of ageing well. Conclusion high flexibility and tenacity in older people is a stable coping profile that is associated with successful ageing.

Resume Les croyances de types a-scientifiques regroupent un ensemble d’opinions heteroclites qui concernent le domaine de l’etrange et de l’irrationnel. L’objectif de cette etude est de construire et de valider une echelle de croyances a-scientifiques. Une analyse factorielle exploratoire a ete realisee sur 544 sujets et une analyse factorielle confirmatoire sur 528 sujets. Nous avons aussi teste la validite nomologique de l’echelle. Les resultats font emerger six dimensions : « la vie apres la mort et les esprits », « la spiritualite et la sante », « les croyances religieuses », « la parapsychologie et les techniques de divination », « les superstitions traditionnelles » et les « etres fantastiques ». Cette recherche preliminaire nous semble etre un bon outil d’investigation pour tous les chercheurs et professionnels interesses par la question des croyances sociales.

The aim of this study was to compare the quality of adaptation and the satisfaction with life of two groups of adults who retired at different ages. Participants were 579 French retirees: 234 had retired before the age of 60, and 345 after 60. The two samples differed in their own perception and appreciation of the age at which they retired.

International audience; OBJECTIVES:The unexpected positive relationship between aging and happiness was called "the paradox of well-being," which is still a matter of debate. This study examined longitudinal change in life satisfaction (LS) in older adults.METHODS:LS was assessed with the satisfaction with life scale, in a sample of individuals (N = 899; aged 62-95 years, at first occasion; M = 72.73, SD = 5.68) for a period of 8 years (5 waves of data). A multiple indicator (e.g., second order) growth modeling was used to assess change in LS.RESULTS:Findings from both unconditional and conditional model (in which time-invariant, i.e., age, gender, and education, and time-varying, i.e., self-perceived health, covariates were incorporated in the model) indicated a linear increase in LS for the 8-year period. As expected, the results showed significant random variation in both intercept and slope, indicating that participants start at different levels and change at different rates.DISCUSSION:Our findings contribute to the debate concerning the paradox of well-being, which calls for explanation. There are few theories that provide some explanation (e.g., the socioemotional selectivity theory). However, to enhance researchers' understanding of developmental changes that contribute to the paradox of well-being, a more integrative theoretical model is needed.

Resume L’article porte sur les liens qui existent entre la satisfaction du travail ancien et la satisfaction de vie actuelle chez des retraite(e)s. Les aspects de l’ancien travail percus retrospectivement comme plaisants sont egalement interroges. L’ensemble des donnees est traite en distinguant les hommes et les femmes, ainsi que l’âge des participants. L’echantillon de notre etude est de 396 personnes (182 hommes et 214 femmes âges de 75,67 ans en moyenne). Les resultats principaux montrent a) que la satisfaction vis-a-vis de l’ancien travail est un predicteur de la satisfaction de vie a la retraite ; b) que la force de cette prediction varie selon la tranche d’âge, plus faible notamment chez les plus jeunes retraites ; c) une grande similarite entre les hommes et les femmes, quel que soit leur âge. Nous discutons des liens observes.

Summary : Predictors of the adaptation in the old adult This research examines factors of adaptation for old person according to their stress, self-representation and social characteristics. Eight hundred and sixty-one volunteers, aged more than sixty five years old were recruited to answer a mail survey. They all belonged to a pension fund of executives. Measurements were related to locus of control, subjective age, self esteem, stressing events, tenacity, well being, satisfaction of life, boredom and health. The population appears to be in good health, well adapted, with high well-being and satisfaction of life. Adaptation appears to be determined by two factors : one relating to health, the other with the satisfaction of life and the absence of boredom. The satisfaction of life appears to be determined by self-esteem, sex, and internality., Cette recherche vise à mettre en évidence les facteurs de l'adaptation de la personne âgée en fonction du stress, de la représentation de soi et de ses caractéristiques identitaires. Huit cent soixante et une personnes de plus de soixante cinq ans volontaires ont été recrutées pour répondre à un questionnaire par voie postale. Ils appartenaient tous à une caisse de retraite de cadres. Les mesures ont porté sur le locus de contrôle, l'âge subjectif, l'estime de soi, les événements stressants, la ténacité, le bien-être, la satisfaction de vie, l'ennui et l'état de santé. L'ensemble de la population apparaît en bonne santé, bien adaptée avec un bien-être et une satisfaction de vie élevés. L'adaptation est sous-tendue par deux facteurs : l'un relatif à la santé l'autre à la satisfaction de vie et l'absence d'ennui. L'estime de soi apparaît comme l'élément prédictif dominant pour les deux dimensions., Alaphilippe Daniel, Bailly Nathalie, Gana Kamel, Martin Bettina. Les prédicteurs de l'adaptation chez l'adulte âgé. In: L'année psychologique. 2005 vol. 105, n°4. pp. 649-667.

International audience

Background:Religious and spiritual issues are clearly important to the older adult population and may play a positive role in maintaining health and recovering from illness. This study systematically reviewed the literature examining the effects of religion and spirituality on health outcomes such as cognitive functioning, coping strategies, and quality of life in people with dementia.Methods:First, 51 articles with defined keywords were collected from online databases. Then, using inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles were selected. These were classified according to methodological quality before being analyzed one by one.Results:The findings highlight the benefits of spirituality and religion on health outcomes. Three articles showed that in participants who used their spirituality or religion more, through their faith, their practices and in maintaining social interactions, their cognitive disorders tended to reduce or stabilize. In the other eight articles, use of spirituality or faith in daily life enabled people to develop coping strategies to help accept their disease, maintain their relationships, maintain hope, and find meaning in their lives, thereby improving their quality of life.Conclusions:Spirituality and religion appear to slow cognitive decline, and help people use coping strategies to deal their disease and have a better quality of life. This literature review allows us to take stock of research over the last decade on spirituality/religion and health outcomes. The benefits observed should be considered with caution and included in rigorous experimental research in the future.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between flexible goal adjustment and life satisfaction (as an enduring component of subjective well-being) using six-year longitudinal data from a sample of older adults.Methods: The study included 704 participants aged 63–97 years assessed four times over a six-year period. Simultaneous and lagged models were specified and estimated using structural equation modeling.Results: Both simultaneous and lagged coefficients indicated that a high score on flexible goal adjustment significantly predicted subsequent levels of life satisfaction.Conclusion: In line with successful aging theory, our findings support the view that the ability to adjust personal goals flexibly is a central resource when unattainable goals are encountered and it contributes to well-being in old age.

The present study contributes to the debate on the nature of wording effects (i.e., ephemeral artifacts or stable response styles) associated with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) by analysing longitudinal data (5 waves over an 8-year time span) of a non-English version of this scale from a sample of 889 French elderly. Our findings showed, first, that the RSES consists of three factors: a self-esteem factor and two method factors. Second, the measurement properties of this solution of the RSES were consistent over time. Third, the structural parameters as well as individual differences were stable, indicating that the RSES taps three meaningful and enduring individual characteristics, i.e., like personality traits. Fourth, this solution is free of any gender bias.

International audience; L’allongement remarquable de l’espérance de vie laisse attendre un fort accroissement de la population d’adultes âgés. Il convient d’assurer à ces nouvelles générations de seniors une réelle qualité de vie et d’intégration sociale. Il ne s’agit pas seulement de vieillir, mais de bien vieillir. Une conséquence de cette transformation tient dans l’importance croissante des maladies du vieillissement et notamment des démences neuro-dégénératives de type Alzheimer. La prise en charge de ces problématiques a entraîné le développement d’un champ original de connaissance et de pratiques, celui de la psychologie du vieillissement, que le présent ouvrage s’efforce de présenter.Une approche développementale y propose un certain nombre de modèles permettant de mieux appréhender les mécanismes du « bien vieillir ». Le vieillissement étant marqué par d’importantes modifications des activités intellectuelles, la psychologie cognitive est également sollicitée afin de comprendre les processus affectés par le vieillissement, tels que la mémoire, la résolution de problème, l’attention ou encore l’intelligence.Une perspective plus clinique développe la prise en charge des pathologies inhérentes au vieillissement, telles que la maladie d’Alzheimer et les pertes d’autonomie. Enfin l’aspect social ne saurait être oublié, le passage à la retraite, l’isolement ou les rapports intergénérationnels relevant d’un traitement psychosocial. La problématique du soi à travers l’estime de soi, la perte de contrôle et d’autonomie constituent également des éléments incontournables de la qualité de vie des adultes âgés.

Objective The emergence of positive psychology propelled scientific interest in the causal relationships between subjective well-being (SWB; e.g., happiness, life satisfaction [LS], positive affect) and physical health. However, it is becoming a controversial topic. Indeed, dependent on approach, LS is either considered a cause (top-down) or an effect (bottom-up). The aim of the present study was to investigate both cross-lagged and simultaneous effects between LS (as an enduring component of SWB) and physical health (as measured by self-perceived health and self-reported diseases), using 8-year longitudinal data from a sample of older adults. Method The study included 899 participants aged 64 to 97 years and assessed 5 times over an 8-year period. Cross-lagged and simultaneous models were specified and estimated using structural equation modeling. Results Both cross-lagged and simultaneous coefficients indicated that poor health significantly predicted subsequent levels of life dissatisfaction, but LS did not predict subsequent levels of health. Conclusions These findings contradict, at least in our older sample, the postulates of positive psychology, and support the bottom-up approach to well-being as well as the popular adage, "As long as you've got your health."