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Successful ageing and development: the contribution of generativity in older age
- Author:
- VILLAR Feliciano
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 32(7), October 2012, pp.1087-1105.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This article explores the contributions that generativity ("a concern for establishing and guiding the next generation") in older age may make to the concept of successful ageing. Two perspectives on successful ageing are described: successful ageing as a set of clinical criteria; and successful ageing as the application of adaptive processes aimed at achieving efficient functioning. After showing the limitations of the first perspective, particularly from a developmental point of view, the author argues that the adaptive version of successful ageing helps to put ageing into a developmental frame, but needs to be complemented by identifying specific content and goals that guide these adaptive processes and establish new feasible gains for older people. The author suggests that generativity in older age could play that role and provides a conceptual framework that enriches the concept of successful ageing.
Older women and their representations of old age: a qualitative analysis
- Authors:
- QUÉNIART Anne, CHARPENTIER Michèle
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 32(6), August 2012, pp.983-1007.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study examined the views of three generations of older women with different life stories (single, married, children and childless) in Quebec, Canada. Based on a qualitative analysis of 25 in-depth interviews conducted with three generations of older women, findings revealed their refusal to define themselves as ‘older or elderly women’, largely due to persistent stereotypes linking old age to dependency, social isolation and fragility. Aware of the social prejudice regarding women and old age, they reject it unanimously. Older women represent a challenge to these homogenising preconceptions of old age, which they, on the contrary, experience in a multitude of ways, often enjoyable. Their conceptions of ageing well are diverse and do not correspond to a clinical definition of ageing. Their representations of ageing well and of ageing expressed the values of physical and intellectual health, and being socially active so they could continue in the continuum of their lives and future projects, rather breaking with contemporary life or existing on the margins of society.
Quality of life in old age: international multi-disciplinary perspectives
- Editors:
- MOLLENKOPF Heidrun, WALKER Alan, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 260p.
- Place of publication:
- Heidelberg
This book brings together leading researchers on quality of life in old age to focus on one of the most important issues in both gerontology and quality of life studies. Quality of life is a holistic construct and assessed from many different perspectives and by many disciplines. As the concept of quality of life can be applied to practically all important domains of life, quality of life research has to include social, environmental, structural, and health related aspects and be approached from an interdisciplinary perspective. There are very few texts available on this topic and none of an international and multi-disciplinary nature. Quality of life studies have neglected older people and, given the size and growth of this population, and this book systematically pursues a comprehensive perspective, and includes theoretical approaches and empirical findings with respect to the most important components of quality of life in old age. This book is designed to be a seminal text for both gerontology and quality of life researchers.
Quality in Ageing and Older Adults
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This journal looks at promoting quality of life in later years. It considers the implications of policy and research in managing and commissioning services and offers guidance on appropriate service provision. Articles consider the role of older people within their wider communities with the overall goals of promoting the potential for independence, control and enhanced well-being. Coverage includes: the implications of research and policy for managers, policy-makers, and practitioners; and disseminating and reflection upon recent research and policy and what this actually means (or could mean) for practice. All articles peer-reviewed.
Ageing and well-being in an international context
- Author:
- CLIFTON Jonathan
- Publisher:
- Institute for Public Policy Research
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 36p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
The author asks what lessons the UK can learn from several case studies from overseas about how the well-being of older people can be incorporated into a wider range of policy areas than those, traditionally, of pensions, health and social care. For example, in the UK an ageing population brings more focus onto mental health, loneliness and isolation issues, whereas life satisfaction is highest in Japan among those over 65. In addition, case studies from Ireland, the United States, Norway, Finland, New Zealand and China are presented with much variation in findings. Examples of how the well-being of older people can be addressed in the four key areas of relationships, work, learning and the built environment are discussed and put forward by the author as good practice for the future of an ageing population in the UK.
The concept of 'ageing well' in ten Latin American countries
- Authors:
- FERNANDEZ-BALLESTEROS R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 30(1), January 2010, pp.41-56.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
A review of several studies examining the lay concept of successful ageing and related concepts leads to the conclusion that older people from different cultures appear to agree on most of the components identified in the literature. From the research emerges a multidimensional conceptualisation of ‘successful ageing’ that is described on the basis of physical, emotional, cognitive and social domains, and which coincides with most theoretical and empirical definitions. The main goal of the present research is to study similarities and differences between concepts of ‘successful ageing’ in several Latin American and European countries and in two different age groups, and also to examine whether a similar structure of the lay concept can be found across both continents. The results show minor differences at item levels among countries, continents and age groups, and a similar internal structure across them.
Relationships between physical activity and perceived qualities of life in old age. Results of the SNAC study
- Authors:
- RENNEMARK Mikael, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 13(1), January 2009, pp.1-8.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The Swedish SNAC-Blekinge baseline database, consisting of data on 585 men and 817 women 60-96 years of age, was utilized. The independent variables were light and strenuous physical activity. Four dependent variables concerned with various quality of life components were employed (well-being, engagement, emotional support and social anchorage). Age, gender, functional ability and co-morbidity were included as possible confounders. Non-parametric bivariate and multivariate statistical tests were performed. Correlations suggested there to generally be a positive relationship between physical activity and quality of life. Multivariate logistic regression analyses controlling for possible confounders showed light physical activity to increase the odds of experiencing well-being, engagement and social anchorage, whereas strenuous physical activity increased the odds of experiencing engagement and emotional support. Thus, light physical activity and strenuous physical activity differed in their relation to quality of life generally. The results indicate that physical activity has a salutogenic effect by enhancing the quality of life, and it can be assumed to be connected to quality of life by generating pleasure and relaxation.
Enhancing later life: how older people perceive active ageing?
- Author:
- BOWLING Ann
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 12(3), May 2008, pp.293-301.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article aimed to identify older people's perceptions of active ageing, and to compare them with the literature, and with older people's perceptions of successful ageing and quality of life. Face-to-face interview survey with 337 people aged 65+ living at home in Britain. The most common perceptions of active ageing were having/maintaining physical health and functioning (43%), leisure and social activities (34%), mental functioning and activity (18%) and social relationships and contacts (15%). A third rated themselves as ageing 'Very actively', and almost half as 'Fairly actively'. Independent predictors of positive self-rated active ageing were optimum health and quality of life. Main sub-themes of active ageing included exercising the body and mind in order to maintain health and functioning. People's views focussed on basic definitions such as social, physical and mental health and activity, probably reflecting the novelty of the concept to them, thereby excluding frail older people from active ageing. Comparisons with definitions of successful ageing and quality of life showed overlap, but the latter were portrayed as 'states of being'. This is consistent with models which propose quality of life as the end-point of active ageing.
A salutogenic view on subjective well-being in active elderly persons
- Authors:
- WIESMANN Ulrich, HANNICH Hans-Joachim
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 12(1), January 2008, pp.56-65.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Subjective well-being as an indicator for successful aging is investigated from a salutogenic perspective that states that the sense of coherence plays a key role for psychological adaptation. It should be demonstrated that the sense of coherence mediates the relationship between generalized resistance resources and subjective well-being. One-hundred-and-seventy psychophysically active elderly persons (37 men) in Germany filled out a questionnaire assessing the sense of coherence, subjective well-being and resistance resources (such as age, education, physical health, activity level, social support and personality variables). It was found that resources co-varied with the sense of coherence and subjective well-being, accounting for 52 and 48% of the variance, respectively. The most important predictors were self-efficacy, self-esteem and education. After controlling for resources, the sense of coherence accounted for an additional 6% of the variance in well-being. The sense of coherence clearly mediated the relationship between resources and well-being. The findings corroborate the salutogenic idea that the sense of coherence creates, or maintains, a form of psychological integrity as represented by subjective well-being. The promotion of a strong sense of coherence should be a major aim of gerontological interventions.
Quality in Ageing
- Publisher:
- Pier Professional
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
This journal looks at promoting quality of life in later years, whether care is needed or not. It looks at quality as well as independence, aiming to illustrate best practice through recent research results and reports of leading edge practice.