Risks and potentials of adult development and aging: Understanding the challenges and opportunities of successful aging.

Abstract Background Middle-aged and older adults are more vulnerable to hospitalization and mortality if they are infected with the COVID-19 virus. The present study investigates the longitudinal effects of subjective successful aging on middle-aged and older adults’ emotional and coping responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and explores an underlying mechanism through perceived time limitation during the pandemic. Methods A sample of 311 Hong Kong Chinese middle-aged and older adults (Mage = 64.58, SD = 10.14, Range = 45–90 years) were recruited from an Adult Development and Aging Project and participated in a questionnaire study via an online platform or phone interview. Their levels of subjective successful aging, perceived time limitation, and emotional and coping responses to the pandemic were measured. Results The respondents who perceived themselves as more successful in aging process reported more positive and fewer negative emotions compared with their counterparts with lower levels of subjective successful aging. The mediation analysis showed that perceived time limitation could partially account for the effects of subjective successful aging on emotional and coping responses. Conclusions Findings of this study unveil the beneficial effects of subjective views of successful aging on emotional and coping responses to the pandemic through alleviating their perception of time limitation.

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Effects of Subjective Successful Aging on Emotional and Coping Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.21203/rs.3.rs-102941/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Dannii Yeung ◽

Edwin Chung ◽

Alfred Lam ◽

Alvin Ho

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Adult Development ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Coping Responses ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Longitudinal Effects ◽

Development And Aging ◽

And Coping

Abstract Background: Middle-aged and older adults are more vulnerable to hospitalization and mortality if they are infected with the COVID-19 virus. The present study investigates the longitudinal effects of subjective successful aging on middle-aged and older adults’ emotional and coping responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and explores an underlying mechanism through perceived time limitation during the pandemic. Methods: A sample of 311 Hong Kong Chinese middle-aged and older adults (Mage=64.58, SD=10.14, Range=45–90 years) were recruited from an Adult Development and Aging Project and participated in a questionnaire study via an online platform or phone interview. Their levels of subjective successful aging, perceived time limitation, and emotional and coping responses to the pandemic were measured.Results: The respondents who perceived themselves as more successful in aging process reported more positive and fewer negative emotions compared with their counterparts with lower levels of subjective successful aging. The mediation analysis showed that perceived time limitation could partially account for the effects of subjective successful aging on emotional and coping responses. Conclusions: Findings of this study unveil the beneficial effects of subjective views of successful aging on emotional and coping responses to the pandemic through alleviating their perception of time limitation.

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Personality's Correlates of Adult Development and Aging

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027//1016-9040.8.3.131 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 131-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Gian Vittorio Caprara ◽

Mariagiovanna Caprara ◽

Patrizia Steca

Keyword(s):

Personality Traits ◽

Adult Development ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Age Groups ◽

Well Being ◽

Efficacy Beliefs ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Education And Health ◽

Development And Aging ◽

And Gender

Three cross-sectional studies examined stability and change in personality over the course of life by measuring the relations linking age to personality traits, self-efficacy beliefs, values, and well-being in large samples of Italian male and female participants. In each study, relations between personality and age were examined across several age groups ranging from young adulthood to old age. In each study, personality constructs were first examined in terms of mean group differences accrued by age and gender and then in terms of their correlations with age across gender and age groups. Furthermore, personality-age correlations were also calculated, controlling for the demographic effects accrued by marital status, education, and health. Findings strongly indicated that personality functioning does not necessarily decline in the later years of life, and that decline is more pronounced in males than it is in females across several personality dimensions ranging from personality traits, such as emotional stability, to self-efficacy beliefs, such as efficacy in dealing with negative affect. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for personality theory and social policy.

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