Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue (한국심리학회지 : 문화 및 사회문제)

Korean Psychological Association of Culture and Social Issues (한국문화및사회문제심리학회)
권호 표지

Positive ageing: A conceptual framework

  • Sik Hung Ng (City University of Hong Kong(Social Psychology)) ;
  • Jean Woo (Chinese University of Hong Kong(Community and Family Medicine, Geriatrics)) ;
  • Alex Kwan (City University of Hong Kong(Social Gerontology and Social Work)) ;
  • Alice Chong (City University of Hong Kong(Social Work))
  • Published : 2006.12.31

⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

With longevity (75 years plus and still increasing) now commonly achievable, the new challenge for individuals and society is less concerned with adding more years to life, though that remains important, and more with adding life to years. To explore the quality of long life more fully, a concept broader than healthy ageing or active ageing is needed. For this purpose, the present article describes a framework of Positive Ageing, also known as Successful Ageing, which views the quality of long life as comprising good health, physical and cognitive functional independence, and meaningful engagement with life. Narrowly defined, it refers to old people ageing well in all these aspects. More broadly defined, it refers to ageing well from midlife on. The framework also identifiesvariables that may affect the process of ageing positively. These variables include the social-cognitive styles of control, humour and future-time perspective on the one hand, and on the other hand, resources based on finance, social network and lifestyle.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was funded by a City University of Hong Kong research grant (#9360076).

References

  1. Atchley, R. C. (1989). A continuity theory of normal aging. Gerontologist, 29, 183-190.
  2. Baltes, P. B. & Staudinger, U. M. (2000). Wisdom: a metaheuristic (pragmatic) to orchestrate mind and virtue toward excellence. American Psychologist, 55, 351-361.
  3. Baltes, P. B. (1997). On the incomplete architecture of human ontogeny: Selection, optimization, and compensation as foundation of developmental theory. American Psychologist, 52, 366-380.
  4. Baltes, P. B., & Baltes, M. M. (1990). Psychological perspectives on successful aging: The model of selective optimization with compensation. In P. B. Baltes & M.M. Baltes (Eds.), Successful aging: Perspectives from the behavioral sciences (pp. 1-34). New York: Cambridge University Press.
  5. Baltes, P.B., Lindenberger, U., & Staudinger, U.M. (1998). Iife-span theory in developmental psychology. In W. Damon & R.M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology, Vol. 1, 5th edition (pp. 1029-1143). New York: John Wiley.
  6. Binstock, R. H., & George, L. K. (Eds.). (1996). Handbook of ageing and the social sciences. New York: Academic Press.
  7. Blieszmar, R., & Bedford, V. C. (Eds.). (1996). Aging and the family: Theory and research. Westford, CT: Praeger.
  8. Brandstadter, J., & Renner, G. (1990). Tenacious goal pursuit and flexible goal adjustment: Explication and age-related analysis of assimilative and accommodative models of coping. Psychology & Aging, 5, 58-67.
  9. Carstensen, L. L., Isaacowitz, D. M., & Charles, S. T. (1999). Taking time seriously: a theory of socioemotional selectivity. American Psychologist, 54, 165-181.
  10. Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (1998). On the self-regulation of behavior. New York: Cambridge University Press.
  11. Cheung, J. C. -K., Kwan, A. Y.-H., Ng, S. H., Ngan, R. M. -H., Lau, A., Leung, E. M. -F., Chan, S. S. -C., & Chan, K. -K. (2002). Conceptions of positive aging among older people in Hong Kong. In A. Y. -H. Kwan (Ed.), Aging Hong Kong: Issues facing an aging society (pp. 12-39). Hong Kong: Cosmos Books
  12. Chi, I., & Boey, K. W. (1994). A mental health and social support study of the old-old in Hong Kong(Resource Paper Series, No. 22). Hong Kong: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
  13. Chong, A. M. L., Ng, S. H., Woo, J., & Kwan, A. Y. H. (2006). Positive ageing: the views of middle-aged and older adults in Hong Kong. Ageing and Society.
  14. Chow, W. S. (2001). The practice of filial piety among the Chinese in Hong Kong. In I. Chi, N. L. Chappell, & J. Lubben (Eds.), Elderly Chinese in Pacific Rim countries: Social support and interaction (pp.125-136). Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.
  15. Clark-Plaskie, M., & Lachman, M. E. (1999). The sense of control in midlife. In S. L. Willis & J. D. Reid (Eds.) Life in the Middle: Psychological and Social Development in Middle Age (pp. 181-208). San Diego: Academic Press.
  16. Crowther, M. R., Parker, M. W., Achenbaum, W. A., Larimore, W.L., & Koenig, H. G. (2002). Rowe and Kahn's Model of Successful Aging revisited: Positive spirituality-The forgotten factor. Gerontologist, 42, 613-620.
  17. Cumming, E., & Henry, W. (1961). Growing old. New York: Basic Books.
  18. Cummins, R. (1999). A psychometric evaluation of the Comprehensive Quality of Life Scale - Fifth edition. In L.L. Yuan, B. Yuen & C. Low (Eds.), Urban quality of life: Critical issues and options. Singapore: School of Building an Real Estate, National University of Singapore, pp. 32-46.
  19. Depp, C. A., & Jeste, D. V. (2006). Definitions and predictors of successful aging: A comprehensive review of larger quantitative studies. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 14, 6-20.
  20. Erikson, E. H., Erikson, J. M., & Kivnick, H. Q. (1986). Vital involvement in old age. New York: W.W. Norton.
  21. Freund, A. M., & Baltes, P. B. (1998). Selection, optimization, and compensation as strategies of life management: Correlations with subjective indicators of successful aging. Psychology and Aging, 13, 531-543.
  22. Fung, H. H., & Carstensen, L. L. (2003). Sending memorable messages to the old: Age differences in preferences and memory in advertisements. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 163-178.
  23. Glass, T. A., de Leon, C. M., Marottoli, R. A., & Berkman, L. F. (1999). Population based study of social and productive activities as predictors of survival among elderly Americans. British Medical Journal, 319, 478-
  24. Heckhausen, J. & Brim, O. G. (1997). Perceived problems for self and others: self-protection by social downgrading throughout adulthood. Psychology & Aging, 12(4), 610-619.
  25. Herzog, A. R., Franks, M. M., Markus, H. R., & Holmberg, D. (1998). Activities and well-being in older age: Effects of self-concept and educational attainment. Psychology and Aging, 13(2), 179
  26. Hsu, H. C., & Chang, M. C. (2004). The current situation of successful aging and active aging among older adults in Taiwan: A multi-level analysis. Taiwanese Journal of Social Welfare, 3(2), 1-36. (In Chinese).
  27. Kendig, H. (2004). The social sciences and successful aging: Issues for Asia-Oceania. Geriatrics and Gerontology International, 4 (s1), S6-S11.
  28. Kim, U. (2005). Personal communication, December 14, 2005.
  29. Labouvie-Vief, G. (1990). Wisdom as integrated thought: historical and developmental perspectives. In R. J. Sternberg (ed.) Wisdom: Its Nature, Origins, and Development (pp. 52-83). New York: Cambridge University Press.
  30. Levy, B.R. (2003). Mind matters: Cognitive and physical effects of aging self-Stereotypes. Journal of Gerontology B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 58, P203-P211.
  31. Musick, M. A., Herzog, A. R., & House, J. S. (1999). Volunteering and mortality among older adults: Findings from a national sample. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 54B, S173-S180.
  32. Neugarten, B. L., Havighurst, R., & Tobin, S. (1968). Personality and patterns of aging. In B. Neugarten (Ed.), Middle age and aging. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  33. Ng, S. H. (1998). Social psychology in an ageing world: Ageism and intergenerational relations. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 1, 99-116.
  34. Ng, S. H., Woo, J., Kwan, A. Y. H., Chong, A. M. L., & Lai, S. (2006). Positive aging: Its measurement and variability in midlife and older adulthood. Report under journal review.
  35. Parkin, T. G. (1995). Ageing in antiquity: Status and participation. Paper presented at the 18th International Congress on Historical/sciences, Montreal, 27 August to 3 September 1995, Session II-8: Old age and ageing.
  36. Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1987). Human aging: Usual and successful. Science, 237, 143-149.
  37. Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1998). Successful aging.New York: Pantheon Books.
  38. Ryan, E. B., Kennaley, D. E., Pratt, M. W. & Shumovich, M. A. (2000) Evaluations by staff, residents, and community seniors of patronizing speech in the nursing home: Impact of passive, assertive, or humorous responses. Psychology and Aging, 15(2), 272-285.
  39. Ryff, C.D., & Keyes, C.L.M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 719-727.
  40. Schaie, K. W. (1994). The course of adult intellectual development. American Psychologist, 49, 304
  41. Schaie, K. W., & Schooler, C. (Eds.) (1998). Impact of work on older adults. New York: Springer.
  42. Schultz, R., & Heckhausen, J. (1996). A life span model of successful aging. American Psychologist, 51, 702-714.
  43. Schwarz, B., Trommsdorff, G., Kim., U., & Park, Y.-s. (2006). Intergenerational Support Psychological and Cultural Analyses of Korean and German Women. Current Sociology, 54, 315-340.
  44. Skinner, E. A., & Connell, J. P. (1986). Control understanding: Suggestions for a developmental framework. In M.M. Baltes & P.B. Baltes (Eds.), The psychology of control and aging (pp. 35-70). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
  45. Solomon, J. C. (1996). Humor and aging well: a laughing matter or a matter of laughing? American Behavioral Scientist, 39(3), 249-271.
  46. Sung, K. -T. (1995). Measures and dimensions of filial piety in Korea. The Gerontologist, 35, 240-248.
  47. WHOQOL Group (1998). The World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL): Development and general psychometric properties. Social Science & Medicine, 46, 1569-1585.
  48. Woo, J. (2000). Relationships among diet, physical activity and other life-style factors and debilitating diseases in the elderly. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 54, S143-S147.
  49. Wooten, P. (1996). Humor: An antidote for stress. Holistic Nursing Practice, 10(2), 49-55.
  50. World Bank (1994). Averting the old age crisis: Policies to protect the old and promote growth. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.