Understanding Age and Ageing Concepts

Definitions of Age, Ageing and Older Adulthood

• Chronological Age: Time since birth, measured in days, months, or years.
• Biological Age: Related to biological functioning versus chronological age; assessed through biomarkers like blood pressure and bone density. Height is often indicative of biological age changes.
• Psychological Age: Reflects mental functioning relative to chronological age, evaluated through emotional capacity, memory, and reaction time.
• Social Age: Based on social roles and life events typical for specific chronological ages; assessed through self-reports and observer ratings.
• Subjective Age: Perception of one's own age, determined through self-reports; feeling older than chronological age can indicate higher mortality rates and cardiovascular disease risks.

Types of Ageing

• Primary Ageing: Universal, intrinsic bodily changes over time that are normative and irreversible, e.g., wrinkling skin, menopause.
• Secondary Ageing: Abnormal changes due to diseases or disabilities; these are often preventable and not universally experienced.
• Tertiary Ageing: Rapid changes occurring at life’s end, associated with significant losses in multiple functions; linked to mortality.

Classification of Older Adulthood

• Defined as individuals aged 65 and older, with categories to observe diversity among older adults:
  • Young-Old: Ages 65-74 years.
  • Old-Old: Ages 75-84 years.
  • Oldest-Old: 85 years and older (including centenarians and supercentenarians).
• Third Age: Period from retirement to the onset of declining health, marked by vitality.
• Fourth Age: Duration following the onset of health declines, characterized by reduced mobility and increased dependency.

Research Methods in the Study of Ageing and Adulthood

• Focus on the scientific method, encompassing systematic and objective observations.
• Steps in the scientific method:
  • Theory formulation: Proposed interpretations of relationships between constructs.
  • Hypothesis development: Specific predictions based on theories.
  • Operationalization: Definition and measurement of variables for research.
• Examples of constructs:
  • Chronological Age: Not a construct (directly observable).
  • Psychological Age: A construct (indirectly measured).
  • Older Adulthood: A construct, defined as 65 years and older.
• Research Methods:
  • Experimental Studies: Examine cause-and-effect relationships by randomly assigning participants to different groups to evaluate outcomes based on varying conditions.