Resilience and successful aging: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the relationship between successful aging (SA) and resilience in older adults, focusing on individuals aged 60 and above, to address a significant gap in understanding how resilience contributes to SA.

METHODS

Following the Cochrane review guidelines, we conducted searches in databases such as Web of Science, PsycNet, and PubMed up to December 2021 and used PRISMA as a tool for reporting the results. Our inclusion criteria were studies on psychological resilience and SA in older adults aged 60 and above. Exclusion criteria included studies on physical resilience, medical outcomes of SA, other indicators not used in screened studies (e.g., prevalence, means), populations with suicidal ideation or chronic/palliative illnesses, studies considering resilience as an indicator of SA, and qualitative studies on the association between resilience and SA.

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies were included and assessed for risk of bias using funnel plot and trim-and-fill methods. The meta-analysis revealed a medium effect size indicating a positive relationship between resilience and SA. However, high heterogeneity warrants a cautious interpretation of these results. No significant differences were found between older adults in the general population and those in retirement communities, nor were geographical variations (Asia, Europe, America) found to moderate this relationship.

DISCUSSION

The findings highlight the intrinsic link between older adults' attitudes towards aging, their subjective evaluations, and their level of psychological resilience. Resilience acts as a protective factor against psychological and physical adversities, underscoring the importance of resilience-enhancing strategies in interventions aimed at promoting SA. The conclusions drawn from this analysis should be approached with caution due to the heterogeneity of the included studies.

Breaking Down Machismo: Shifting Definitions and Embodiments of Latino Manhood in Middle-Aged Latino Men

There is a notable gap in empirical research regarding how Latino men define and demonstrate machismo, masculinity, and manhood as well as the behavioral consequences associated with these concepts. In our study, we employed a phenomenological thematic approach to analyze 20 semi-structured individual interviews conducted with Latino men residing in South Florida. Our primary objectives were twofold: to examine (1) how do Latino men ages 35 to 60 years describe what it means to be a man and (2) what are the attributes that these men seek to show others that demonstrate their character, cultural values, and gender identity. Findings suggest that Latino men understood expectations associated with machismo and explained that fulfillment of their role as provider, protector, and head of the family was important to their perception of self. While some participants reported a desire to embody characteristics associated with traditional machismo, others strived to demonstrate character, familism, and respect and to provide financial and other instrumental support to their families. Participants reported that their transition into middle age was accompanied by a shift in their perspectives on gender roles, moving away from rigid patriarchal views. Exposure to a more fluid and flexible approach to manhood offered relief from the pressures associated with inflexible manifestations of machismo, which can have negative social, behavioral, and physical health implications. The implications of our research extend to the conceptualization of gender ideals, highlighting the need to incorporate intersectionality, role strain, precarious manhood, and culturally specific notions of manhood as foundational elements in this discourse.

Convivir (to Coexist) and Other Insights: Results From the Positive Aging for Latinos Study

Many Latinos in the United States do not have access to culturally sensitive services to help them age well. We combined community-based participatory research with concept mapping methods to understand how a sample of community-dwelling Latino older adults view positive aging. Nine focus groups (N = 101) generated 85 non-repeating statements, which were used to produce a final map with 11 clusters, organized into four overarching regions: Convivir (To Coexist), Self-Sufficiency, Perspectives on Life, and Healthy Behaviors. Further analyses revealed three themes: (1) the importance of varied social connections, as conveyed by the region labeled Convivir; (2) a multifaceted understanding of "stability" that includes finances, relationships, and spirituality; and (3) the need for a mature mindset reflected in the thematic cluster Tomalo Suave (Take It Easy). Findings can inform the development of interventions for Latino older adults and the cultural adaptation of programs initially designed for non-Latinos.

The Role of Spirituality in Conceptualizations of Health Maintenance and Healthy Aging Among Latin American Immigrants

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to investigate ways in which spirituality was conceptualized in relationship to maintaining brain health and healthy aging in a cohort of older adults who immigrated to the United States from diverse regions of Latin America, in order to ultimately develop culturally-tailored brain health promotion approaches.

DESIGN

We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.

SETTING

Participants were recruited from community centers and by a memory care center at a large academic medical center.

PARTICIPANTS

We interviewed 30 Spanish-speaking immigrants over age 60. Questions addressed perspectives about the brain, aging, and dementia. Interviews were coded for themes.

MEASUREMENTS

Thematic analysis was used to analyze participants' responses.

RESULTS

We identified 5 themes: (1) expressing gratitude to God for mental and physical health, (2) putting the onus of life and death in God's hands, (3) using church as a place to socialize and build community as an approach to leading a healthy lifestyle, (4) using prayer as nourishment for the soul and the brain, and (5) gaining inner-peace and calm, and thus maintaining a healthy life, due to a connection with God.

CONCLUSION

The incorporation of customized spiritual interventions may be a mechanism by which to increase the effectiveness of brain health promotion efforts.

A Successful Aging Model Based on Personal Resources, Self-Care, and Life Satisfaction

The most internationally studied models of successful aging defend that there are several pillars for a good aging: absence of disease, good cognitive and physical function, a high commitment and social activity, social capital, personal resources, life satisfaction, and spirituality. This study examines the relationships between personal resources, perceived social support, hope, spirituality, self-care and subjective well-being variables, as bases for a successful aging. One thousand and sixteen community-dwelling Spanish adults, aged 55-92 years, participated in the study. Information on variables assessed was collected using self-reported questionnaires. Confirmatory Factor Analyses and Structural models with latent variables relating all indicators and factors were estimated. The structural model positing background variables affecting personal resources which then affected self-care behaviors and finally affected life satisfaction was supported by the data. The model results emphasize the importance of personality, because largely affects the use of personal resources. The three selected personal resources (support, hope and spirituality) favor self-care behaviors. And finally, these behaviors improved life satisfaction in the old age. This result is of particular importance when policies for a successful and satisfactory aging of the population have to be designed.

Testing a Proactive Model of Successful Aging Among Older Adults in Costa Rica and Spain

The purpose of this study is to examine successful aging among Spanish-speaking older adults in Costa Rica and in Spain using the proactive framework proposed by Kahana et al. (2014). More specifically, we hypothesized that older adults' life satisfaction would be positively associated with the frequency and perceived level of social support, spirituality/having purpose in life, and the use of proactive physical, cognitive, and social self-care behaviors. Our results confirmed these hypotheses, not only for the overall group of participants, but also separately for older adults in Costa Rica and in Spain. The present study contributes to the literature of successful aging among older adults, by examining the protective factors associated with life satisfaction among Spanish speaking older adults in Costa Rica and in Spain. It identifies specific protective factors (spirituality/purpose in life, social support, and self-care) associated with the values and preferences held by participants in the study.

Religion and Mental Health in Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations: A Review of the Literature

Religion has been an important source of resiliency for many racial and ethnic minority populations. Given the salience, sociohistorical context, and importance of religion in the lives of black and Latino Americans, this literature review focuses on the mental health and well-being outcomes of religion among black and Latino Americans across the adult life course and specifically in later life. This review provides an overview of religious participation and religiosity levels and an in-depth discussion of extant research on the relationship between the multiple dimensions of religiosity and mental health in these 2 populations. Racial differences between blacks, Latinos, and non-Latino whites are also examined. Suggestions for limitations of the current literature and future directions for research on religion and mental health in racial/ethnic minority populations, especially older minorities, are proposed.

Subjective well-being key elements of Successful Aging: A study with Lifelong Learners older adults from Costa Rica and Spain

Subjective well-being is a major psychological construct in the research tradition. Along with literature, authors have distinguished between hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. The aim of this study is to determine the role of some psychosocial variables plays in the perceived well-being is conceived from a hedonic or a eudaimonic perspective. The sample consisted of 1016 people of 55 years and older in a Spanish sample and 277 people of 55 years old or older from a Costa Rican sample. Both samples were part of the Longitudinal Older Learners (LOL) study. A structural model with latent variables was estimated with Mplus. The results point out that, the traditional variables included on successful aging models are relevant for explaining older adults' well-being in both countries with some differences on the hedonic and eudaimonic approach of successful aging on the Latin cultural context studied.