Search Results (4)

In the last decades, the scientific interest in ageing has increased due to the progressive ageing of the global population and due to the importance of guaranteeing the elder people and the next generations a good quality of life and biopsychological well-being. However, nowadays, there is not a common and accepted definition of ageing. This situation may refer to the complexity and relevance of the ageing topic and it means that the concept of ageing needs to be understood in a deeper way as a multidimensional and complex process that includes different elements distinctive. The main goal of this review is to explore the definitions and conceptual models of ageing according to a psychological point of view, through a biopsychosocial approach, that integrates biological, psychological, and social aspects with the main goal of a better understanding of the complexity of the process itself. Methods: We conducted a review of the literature through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases, and we followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, analysing papers written in English between 2002 and 2023. Results: The review showed different conceptual models of ageing, including Rowe and Kahn’s successful ageing model, the World Health Organization’s models, and others like the “Selection, Optimization and Compensation” Model. Also, the determinants and predictors of ageing have been analysed highlighting the individual variability and the multidimensional nature of ageing. The geographic diversity of the included studies allowed for the analysis of cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental differences in the conceptualisation of ageing. Conclusions: The results emphasise the importance of targeted interventions and programs aimed at promoting well-being during ageing, considering the complexity and multidimensionality of the ageing process. Full article

The rate of aging is growing faster than ever. The global society must prepare adequate measures to support this imminent change. Following this social trend, research has been conducted on the quality of life of the aging population in a different fields, including gerontology. Since the idea of successful aging was conceptualised, research on the quality of life of older adults has been actively conducted. The current study aims to contribute to the aging research field by adding a factor (religious engagement) to Rowe and Kahn’s model. We utilized the longitudinal design to examine the longstanding effect of demographic, physical, social, psychological, and religious factors on life satisfaction among older Korean adults (N = 4013). Hierarchical regression analyses were employed to understand how these factors influence older adults’ life satisfaction in a nationally representative sample. Study findings indicated (a) after controlling for demographic background, all subdimensions of physical, social, psychological, and religious factors exerted a significant effect on later life satisfaction; (b) the final model showed that highly educated, regular exercise, frequent meeting with friends and family, less depressed, feeling less lonely, and higher religious engagement ultimately affected the subsequent life satisfaction of Korean older adults; (c) among different variables, psychological health and religious engagement were found to be crucial factors. The findings confirm the explanatory power of successful aging theory while providing empirical evidence that religious engagement may be an additional factor contributing to enhancing the life satisfaction of older adults. Full article

This study was conducted to identify the factors associated with successful aging in older adults based on the ecological system model. Data from the 2017 National Survey of the Living Conditions of Korean Elderly were used. Participants comprised 10,074 older adults. The three principal components in the successful aging model developed by Rowe and Kahn, “absence of disease and disease-related disability,” “maintenance of high mental and physical function,” and “continued engagement with life,” were used to determine successful aging. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared test, t-test, and logistic regression. The study results showed that the correlation factors were age, sex, educational level, economic status, heavy drinking, subjective health status, and health screening in the individual system; living arrangement, satisfaction with spouse, and frequency of contacting family, siblings, and relatives in the family system; and the frequency of contacting neighbors and friends, number of close neighbors and friends, and accessibility of neighborhood facilities in the community system. This study is significant because it confirms that individual characteristics and the environmental systems surrounding older adults should be considered for successful aging; it is necessary to develop and apply healthcare intervention programs that consider both of these aspects. Full article

Psychological well-being is a construct of maximum relevance in psychology, being the equivalent to health in medical sciences. It is a multifaceted construct, with two research traditions: the hedonic and the eudaimonic ones. On the other hand, the paradign of succesful aging is a good theoretical framework to study and understand optimal aging. Rowe and Kahn (1998) articulated this paradign proposing its three main characteristics: physcal health, cognitive functioning and being productive and socially active. The aim of this research is to develop a predictive model of well-being, both hedonic and eudaimonic, using the sucessful aging parading plus a dimension of spirituality. Main results of the model showed that social support had a significant and positive on satisfaction and to a lesser extent on well-being. Pshysical health was also a significant predictor of satisfaction. An finally, spirituality may also be considered a protector of well-being. Percentage of variance explained of life satisfaction was 23.3%, while this percentage on well-being was 10.4%. Full article