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Aging in the face of an increasing population and growing life expectancy is considered one of the major demographic challenges in modern society. Previous research has revealed that quality of life in aging could significantly differ depending on the resources one possesses. However, little attention has been given to the mechanisms of formation of these resources and the role of intentionality. In the present study, we identified 22 strategies that favor a better life quality in aging and analyzed them from the perspective of subjective beliefs and reported performance. Our sample was adults (n = 72) aged 57–65, living in St. Petersburg, Russia. The results showed that although participants were aware of the strategies that favor aging, their reported performance ranged on a scale from average to infrequent use of these strategies. We found that subjective beliefs about the role of psychological resources for better aging predicted higher scores on subjective beliefs about the role of lifestyle resources and the reported performance of psychological resources. Our results suggest that there is a gap between subjective beliefs about the controllability of aging processes and the transformation of these beliefs into real performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging in the face of an increasing population and growing life expectancy is considered one of the major demographic challenges in modern society. Previous research has revealed that quality of life in aging could significantly differ depending on the resources one possesses. However, little attention has been given to the mechanisms of formation of these resources and the role of intentionality. In the present study, we identified 22 strategies that favor a better life quality in aging and analyzed them from the perspective of subjective beliefs and reported performance. Our sample was adults (n = 72) aged 57–65, living in St. Petersburg, Russia. The results showed that although participants were aware of the strategies that favor aging, their reported performance ranged on a scale from average to infrequent use of these strategies. We found that subjective beliefs about the role of psychological resources for better aging predicted higher scores on subjective beliefs about the role of lifestyle resources and the reported performance of psychological resources. Our results suggest that there is a gap between subjective beliefs about the controllability of aging processes and the transformation of these beliefs into real performance.

Aging in the face of an increasing population and growing life expectancy is considered one of the major demographic challenges in modern society. Previous research has revealed that quality of life in aging could significantly differ depending on the resources one possesses. However, little attention has been given to the mechanisms of formation of these resources and the role of intentionality. In the present study, we identified 22 strategies that favor a better life quality in aging and analyzed them from the perspective of subjective beliefs and reported performance. Our sample was adults ( n = 72) aged 57-65, living in St. Petersburg, Russia. The results showed that although participants were aware of the strategies that favor aging, their reported performance ranged on a scale from average to infrequent use of these strategies. We found that subjective beliefs about the role of psychological resources for better aging predicted higher scores on subjective beliefs about the role of lifestyle resources and the reported performance of psychological resources. Our results suggest that there is a gap between subjective beliefs about the controllability of aging processes and the transformation of these beliefs into real performance.

Background Healthy lifestyle behaviours may improve outcomes for people with colorectal cancer (CRC), but the intention to take action and to change those behaviours may vary with time and resource availability. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of current lifestyle behaviours in people with and without CRC in our community, and to identify their desire to change and their resource preferences. Methods A mixed-methods survey was completed by people diagnosed with CRC who were pre-treatment (n = 54), undergoing treatment (n = 62), or done with treatment for less than 6 months (n = 67) or for more than 6 months (n = 178), and by people without cancer (n = 83). Results Current lifestyle behaviours were similar in all groups, with the exception of vigorous physical activity levels, which were significantly lower in the pre-treatment and ongoing treatment respondents than in cancer-free respondents. Significantly more CRC respondents than respondents without cancer had made lifestyle changes. Among the CRC respondents, dietary change was the change most frequently made (39.3%), and increased physical activity was the change most frequently desired (39.1%). Respondents wanted to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), reading materials, self-efficacy, and group activities to make future changes. Conclusions Resources for lifestyle change should be made available for people diagnosed with CRC, and should be tailored to address physical activity, CAM, and diet. Lifestyle programs offered throughout the cancer trajectory and beyond treatment completion might be well received by people with CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]