Measuring Successful Aging in Southern Black Older Adults

Abstract Aging presents change in the form of opportunities and challenges, from common physical alterations, to major life events. Perception of such events is greatly shaped by one’s mental health, and is a major influence on gerotranscendence, a positive kind of aging involving redefinition of self, relationships, and proposed to be a precursor to successful aging. A mixed-methods cross-sectional descriptive design was used to study 50 older adults. Life Events Checklist, Gerotranscendence Scale, Herth Hope Index, and Successful Aging Inventory were administered. Mean participant age was 70.78 years; there were 9 males (18%), 41 females (82%), 13 were Black (26%), and 37 were White (74%). Participants reported a number of stressful events, most frequently transportation accidents, followed by other very stressful events or experiences, and sudden unexpected death of someone close. Gerotranscendence scores ranged from 0-10 (µ 6.88, a moderate score). Successful aging scores ranged from 40-79 (µ 62.33, a moderate score). A sub-sample of 6 participants engaged in semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed verbatim and subject to content analysis. Faith, displaced longing, temporal anticipation, proactive problem-solving/coping, and concern for future generations were emergent qualitative themes. Findings highlight opportunities for providers from multiple disciplines to target risks and possibilities for aging successfully and to promote hope, optimism, problem-solving skills, and gerotranscendence in all older adults, regardless of physical or functional health status.

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Toward a conceptual model for successful transgender aging

Qualitative Social Work ◽

10.1177/1473325021994666 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 147332502199466

Author(s):

Steffany Sloan ◽

Jacquelyn J Benson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Work Practice ◽

Later Life ◽

Theoretical Models ◽

Social Work Practice ◽

The Body ◽

Aging Research ◽

Research Findings ◽

Resilience Factors

Transgender older adults have been subject to life-long stigma and marginalization, resulting in significant social and health consequences. Despite these challenges, this population commonly reports thriving in later life. In order to attend to nuanced experiences of older transgender adults, theoretical models of successful aging must reflect complexities presented by gender minority status. In order to address theoretical gaps, a systematic qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted to summarize findings across the body of qualitative transgender aging research. Findings indicated that transgender older adults conceptualize successful aging through the process of embracing gender identity. Themes were identified to conceptualize successful transgender aging such as gender expression, shedding internalized stigma, and championing a resilience mindset. Implications for social work practice are provided, suggesting a more comprehensive understanding of both challenges and resilience factors amongst the aging transgender population.

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Profiling obesity phenotypes and trajectories in older adults of the Quebec NuAge cohort on nutrition and successful aging: A cluster analysis

Clinical Obesity ◽

10.1111/cob.12295 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. e12295

Author(s):

Ahmed Ghachem ◽

Maimouna Bagna ◽

Hélène Payette ◽

Pierrette Gaudreau ◽

Martin Brochu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cluster Analysis ◽

Successful Aging

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What attributes of successful aging are important to older adults? The development of a multidimensional definition of successful aging

Social Work in Health Care ◽

10.1080/00981389.2020.1731049 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 59 (3) ◽

pp. 161-179 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Barbra Teater ◽

Jill M. Chonody

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Definition Of

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PHYSIOLOGY OF SUCCESSFUL AGING: IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1625 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S434-S434

Author(s):

Konstantinos Mantantzis ◽

Denis Gerstorf ◽

Thomas M Hess

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Well Being ◽

Empathic Accuracy ◽

Future Research ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Use Of Data ◽

Aging Study ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Relationship Factors

Abstract Research into peripheral physiology and its association with cognition, emotionality, and social/physical functioning has received considerable attention over the years. However, many of the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this symposium, we have compiled a set of four empirical projects that showcase current and future endeavors to address some of the long-standing questions about when, how, and why physiology shapes and is shaped by key psychosocial resources. Hawkley et al. make use of data from the NSHAP and HRS longitudinal studies to investigate whether social relationships such as number of friends predicts risk of diabetes among older adults. Wilson et al. use dyadic data from young and middle-aged couples to examine cardiometabolic similarity among spouses, and how such concordance is shaped by key relationship factors such as emotional closeness. Pauly et al. use data from two daily-life studies of older couples to investigate how physiological synchrony in cortisol is modulated by partner interactions, empathy, and empathic accuracy. Finally, Mantantzis et al. make use of multi-year longitudinal data from the Berlin Aging Study II to examine the role of glucose regulation capacity for trajectories of subjective well-being among older adults. Thomas Hess will discuss the importance of these papers, discuss strengths and weaknesses of the approaches chosen, and consider implications for future research.

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Effects of subjective successful aging on emotional and coping responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-021-02076-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dannii Y. Yeung ◽

Edwin K. H. Chung ◽

Alfred H. K. Lam ◽

Alvin K. K. 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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THE POSSIBILITY OF LINKING SPONTANEOUS AND INDUCED NEUROCOGNITIVE PLASTICITY: CAN COGNITIVE TRAINING INFLUENCE COMPENSATORY BRAIN ACTIVITY IN OLDER ADULTS? THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL PREMISES

Acta Neuropsychologica ◽

10.5604/01.3001.0014.5290 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 507-523

Author(s):

Ludmiła Zając-Lamparska

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Study Design ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Reference Group ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Before And After ◽

Theory Of Aging

One of the most important determinants of successful aging is cognitive ability. Although cognitive decline is a well-documented phenomenon characteristic of aging, it is acknowledged that aging can also be related to cognitive neuroplasticity that allows one to compensate the decline and adapt to it. Cognitive neuroplasticity may be spontaneous or induced by external influences. An example of the former is compensatory brain activity in older adults, and the latter – improvement in cognitive functioning under the influence of cognitive training. Both the compensatory brain activity of older adults and the effectiveness of cognitive training in this age group have already been extensively studied. However, it has not yet been examined whether they can be linked. The article indicates theoretical and empirical premises for the possibility of influencing compensatory brain activity in older adults by cognitive training. In the most comprehensive way the phenomenon of compensatory brain activity in older adults is addressed by the STAC model – the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition, which also provides the theoretical grounds for the possible impact of cognitive training on compensatory brain activity. There are also empirical arguments in favour of such an impact, but they are quite limited in nature. The reason for this is the lack of research directly addressing the problem of the consistency of brain activity changes resulting from cognitive training with the assumptions of compensatory brain activity models, such as STAC. The theoretical grounds for the linkage of compensatory brain activity in older adults with the influence of cognitive training are clear. However, the analysis of the studies discussed in the article suggests that failing to embed the study design within the theoretical framework of compensatory brain activity in older adults may lead to the exclusion of factors important in drawing conclusions about this phenomenon. The following elements of the study design were identified as necessary to include: participation of young adults in the study as a reference group, usage of tasks in different difficulty levels during the measurement of brain activity and consideration of the relation between brain activity and cognitive performance, and comparison of brain activity in relation to cognitive performance before and after training in both, older and young adults.

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Older HIV+ and HIV− Adults Provide Similar Definitions of Successful Aging: A Mixed-Methods Examination

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gny157 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 385-395 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Pariya L Fazeli ◽

Jessica L Montoya ◽

Chastity N McDavid ◽

David J Moore

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

General Health ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Well Being ◽

Neurocognitive Impairment ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Demographic Correlates ◽

Biological Health ◽

Design And Methods

Abstract Background and Objective As HIV-infected (HIV+) individuals age, there is a need to understand successful aging (SA) from the patient perspective. This study compared SA definitions between HIV+ and HIV-uninfected (HIV−) older adults and then examined correlates of SA categories. Research Design and Methods Ninety-three HIV+ and 46 HIV− older (aged 50+) adults provided brief definitions of SA, which was examined using content analysis. We then compared the frequency of SA categories by serostatus and examined the correlates of SA categories within both groups. Results Seven SA categories emerged: General Health, Cognitive Health & Ability, Physical/Biological Health & Ability, Social Relationships, Attitudes, Psychological, & Emotional Well-Being, Proactive & Engaged Lifestyle, and Independence. While no significant differences emerged, HIV− older adults were more likely to report General Health and the subcategory of Longevity/Survival, while HIV+ older adults were more likely to report subcategories of Enjoying Life & Fulfillment and Maintaining Balance. Few demographic correlates of SA categories emerged. Mood and HIV characteristics were not associated with SA categories. In both groups, those without neurocognitive impairment were significantly more likely to endorse General Health than those with neurocognitive impairment. Discussion and Implications HIV+ and HIV− older individuals may generally perceive SA similarly, and their definitions parallel with existing models of SA. Yet, living with a chronic illness may cause HIV+ older adults to place greater value on quality of life and life satisfaction than physical health and chronological age. Observational and intervention studies may use similar approaches in evaluating and maximizing SA.

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