Aging Successfully: Possible in Principle? Possible for all? Desirable for all?

The Role of Life Satisfaction and Optimism for Successful Aging in Mid and Late Life

Guided by the Rowe and Kahn model, the current study examined the longitudinal association of objective and subjective components of successful aging (SA) with individuals' life satisfaction and level of optimism across adulthood aiming to validate the related scanty existing research. Data were from waves 2 and 3 (2004-14) of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Using structural equation modeling, we examined (N = 2,040) whether subjective life satisfaction (wave 2) has any effect on a composite measure of SA (wave 3) while controlling for baseline sociodemographic and health factors. We also examined the mediation effects of optimism in the above associations. Findings revealed that life satisfaction has a significant positive effect on SA; also, this effect is bidirectional. Further, high optimism positively mediated the bidirectional association between life satisfaction and SA. This study identified life satisfaction and optimism as having potentially positive impacts on achieving SA in middle-aged and older adults.

Concepts and definitions of healthy ageing: a systematic review and synthesis of theoretical models

Background

Healthy ageing (HA) has been defined using multiple approaches. We aim to produce a comprehensive overview and analysis of the theoretical models underpinning this concept and its associated normative terms and definitions.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed HA models in Embase.com, Medline (Ovid), Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science until August 2022. Original theoretical papers, concept analyses, and reviews that proposed new models were included. Operational models/definitions, development psychology theories and mechanisms of ageing were excluded. We followed an iterative approach to extract the models' characteristics and thematically analyze them based on the approach of Walker and Avant. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021238796).

Findings

Out of 10,741 records, we included 59 papers comprising 65 models/definitions, published in English (1960-2022) from 16 countries in Europe, Asia, and America. Human ageing was described using 12 normative terms, mainly (models (%)): successful (34 (52%)), healthy (eight (12%)), well (five (8%)), and active (four (6%)). We identified intrinsic/extrinsic factors interacting throughout the life course, adaptive processes as attributes, and outcomes describing ageing patterns across objective and subjective dimensions (number of models/definitions): cognitive (62), psychological (53), physical (49), social (49), environmental (19), spiritual (16), economic (13), cultural (eight), political (six), and demographic (four) dimensions. Three types of models emerged: health-state outcomes (three), adaptations across the life course (31), or a combination of both (31). Two additional sub-classifications emphasized person-environment congruence and health promotion.

Interpretation

HA conceptualizations highlight its multidimensionality and complexity that renders a monistic model/definition challenging. It has become evident that life long person-environment interactions, adaptations, environments, and health promotion/empowerment are essential for HA. Our model classification provides a basis for harmonizing terms and dimensions that can guide research and comparisons of empirical findings, and inform social and health policies enabling HA for various populations and contexts.

Funding

MM, ZMRD, and OI are supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant No 801076, and MM is also supported by the Swiss National Foundation grant No 189235.

Longevity is not an ingredient of successful aging as self-reported by community-dwelling older adults: a scoping review

OBJECTIVES

There has been a long-standing debate in gerontology about what constitutes successful aging (SA). This scoping review investigated older adults' perspectives on longevity as part of SA to promote developing a standardized conceptual model.

METHOD

The current review followed the JBI methodological guidelines and used Rowe & Kahn's SA framework and Baltes' selection, optimization, and compensation model as the foundational theoretical framework. Five electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Web of Science) were searched using specific inclusion criteria (participants, concept, and context) to identify original studies that evaluated SA.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies, including 9,360 individuals (aged 60 years and older), were selected. Main indicators involved six primary domains: Psychological, physical, social, environmental, spiritual, and behavioral. Physical activity, basic aspects of wellbeing, positive outlook, satisfaction with life, interpersonal relationship, participation in meaningful activities, and financial security emerged as the most important factors. The findings suggest that older adults do not consider longevity a primary component of SA.

CONCLUSION

We identified multidimensional self-reported SA components without longevity being emphasized, guiding further improvement of older adults' wellbeing. The study outlines an updated conceptual framework that can be applied to real-life scenarios to test how older adults can best adapt to the challenges of aging.

Low Psychological Resilience in Older Individuals: An Association with Increased Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and the Presence of Chronic Medical Conditions

The term resilience, which has been present in science for almost half a century, stands for the capacity of some system needed to overcome an amount of disturbance from the environment in order to avoid a change to another stable state. In medicine, the concept of resilience means the ability to deal with daily stress and disturbance to our homeostasis with the intention of protecting it from disturbance. With aging, the organism becomes more sensitive to environmental impacts and more susceptible to changes. Mental disturbances and a decline in psychological resilience in older people are potentiated with many social and environmental factors along with a subjective perception of decreasing health. Distinct from findings in younger age groups, mental and physical medical conditions in older people are closely associated with each other, sharing common mechanisms and potentiating each other’s development. Increased inflammation and oxidative stress have been recognized as the main driving mechanisms in the development of aging diseases. This paper aims to reveal, through a translational approach, physiological and molecular mechanisms of emotional distress and low psychological resilience in older individuals as driving mechanisms for the accelerated development of chronic aging diseases, and to systematize the available information sources on strategies for mitigation of low resilience in order to prevent chronic diseases.

The Impact of Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions on Satisfaction with Life and the Mediating Role of Loneliness

Loneliness and cognitive distortions have serious negative effects on life satisfaction and are seen as related to each other. However, what mediates in these relationships has not been adequately analyzed. This study aims to analyze the effect between cognitive distortions and life satisfaction by asserting the mediating role of loneliness. For this purpose, we conducted a cross-sectional study with 978 people over the age of 20 from various parts of Turkey using a general screening model. Firstly, we analyzed the direct effect of interpersonal rejection, interpersonal misperception, and unrealistic relationship expectation, which are sub-dimensions of cognitive distortions, loneliness, and life satisfaction. Secondly, we analyzed the effects of independent, mediation, and interaction (Loneliness X age) variables on satisfaction with life. Thirdly, we applied direct regression analysis between independent, mediating, and dependent variables to conduct the mediation analysis of the study. Also, we examined age as a moderator between loneliness and life satisfaction. The results showed loneliness as an essential determinant between cognitive distortions and life satisfaction. Moreover, in the moderation analysis, we found some age-related differences between loneliness and life satisfaction. According to this, both loneliness and life satisfaction increased with increasing age. However, life satisfaction decreased as loneliness increased in young people. Being able to compensate for loneliness in the aging process is an essential psychological indicator. Although young people have more opportunities than older people, their ability to cope with negative situations such as loneliness is largely undeveloped. These results showed both psychological and sociological problems of loneliness. Therefore, the results can be useful for the prevention of loneliness and the development of intervention programs.

The Role of Self-Esteem in the Relationship Between Loneliness and Life Satisfaction in Late Adulthood: Evidence from Poland

Background

The life satisfaction of elderly persons has been extensively investigated and discussed. However, a literature review shows that relatively few studies have focused on the effect of loneliness on the life satisfaction of older adults. Some researchers have acknowledged that the character of the relationship between loneliness and life satisfaction is still unclear, and this association is much more complex that it appears to be. Therefore, the main purpose of the current study was to understand how loneliness is associated with satisfaction, and whether self-esteem and educational involvement in the University of the Third Age (U3A) courses can affect this relationship among elderly people.

Methods

The research was conducted on a group of 179 elderly adults (65% women). We measured loneliness, satisfaction, and self-esteem. The data were collected via the paper-and-pencil format through convenience sampling, just before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Results

The results obtained show that loneliness correlated negatively with self-esteem and life satisfaction. Self-esteem was associated positively with life satisfaction. Self-esteem acted as a suppressor between loneliness and life satisfaction. The participation of older adults in U3A moderated the strength of the relationship between loneliness and life satisfaction (direct effect) and between loneliness and life satisfaction mediated by self-esteem (indirect effect).

Conclusion

The mediatory role of self-esteem and the moderating role of educational activities in the relationship between loneliness and life satisfaction in late adulthood have important developmental and social implications. It appears that although feelings of loneliness and social isolation have a negative association on the life satisfaction of older adults, this relationship may be altered by empowering seniors’ self-esteem through their involvement in lifelong learning. Such a solution supports the functioning of older people also at the social level.

[Gerontology, geriatric medicine and robot research : Look back to the future]

Assistive robotics as a gerontological geriatric field of research so far seem to be perceived more as "recalcitrant". Predominant is a reserved attitude as to whether this should be considered a research topic to be taken seriously. The reliability of research results and the scientific half-life period are questioned as digital technique generations change exceedingly rapidly and also only a few sustainable standards and guidelines are established. In this context there is a danger that essential developments will be missed in gerontology and geriatrics, then the momentum is active right now and can now be shaped. In the scientific gerontology and geriatrics these developments should not be missed out on but must be grasped with pioneering spirit and proactively co-created. This can be achieved by further research endeavors, public activities and the utilization of knowledge from clinical and nursing practice with each having feedback into development and research.

Advanced old age as a developmental dilemma: An in-depth comparison of established fourth age conceptualizations

Distinguishing the Fourth Age (FoA) from the Third Age (ThA) has become a common practice in aging research. In this theoretical paper, we focus on four established conceptualizations of the ThA-FoA distinction, i.e., (1) Neugarten's work on the young-old vs. the old-old; (2) Laslett's concept of the innovative life period of the ThA; (3) Erikson's 9th life stage approach; and (4) Baltes' approach considering the FoA as the most radical incompleteness of the human condition. After a comparative descriptive analysis, we extract evaluative elements inherent in the four approaches according to six categories: (1) fundamental values; (2) positive evaluative elements; (3) negative evaluative elements; (4) the decline vs. growth view; (5) the continuity vs. discontinuity view; and (6) values related to practical issues. As an overarching result of our analysis, we conclude that all conceptions face - in different ways - dilemmas that seem difficult to solve. One option may be to give up all ambitions toward agency for the FoA and indeed qualify this phase as the "aging without agency" phase of life. Doing so, however, seems ethically questionable, because it would give up acknowledged values connected with a good human life such as human goal-directed autonomy and freedom. In conclusion, the ThA-FoA distinction, although arguably a needed and helpful roadmap for the recent decades of aging science, comes with enduring disadvantages and eventually even risks. Therefore, in future aging science, we recommend avoiding the ThA-FoA distinction or at least using it only in combination with a critical attitude.

[Autonomous assitive robots for older people at home: An exploratory study : "He is always there for me-and I for him too"]

The use of autonomous assistive robots in the domestic environment of old people and the possible effects on the quality of life is a relatively new field of research. Given the relatively limited technical robustness of these robots, autonomous assistive robots have only rarely been tested in real life situations; therefore, valid data in this field are very limited. This article reports on one of these rare exploratory trials in the domestic setting and examines the following questions: will people older than 60 years perceive living with an autonomous robot as a benefit or a burden? What impact could assistive robots have on the quality of life and loneliness? To explore the socioscientific aspects of these research questions, an autonomous robot was developed for use in private homes. The robot can move and approach people independently and accompany them through their daily lives. The robot was tested in 20 households of older people over 5 days without surveillance by members of the project. This evaluation investigated how old people experienced the robot in their homes and what effect it had on their daily routine and quality of life. The predominantly qualitative results demonstrated that the autonomous assistive SYMPARTNER robot was primarily received positively and it was considered to improve participants' daily life and mitigate the negative effects of living alone. The presented findings were derived from the 3‑year project "SYMPARTNER" (2016-2019) funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).