Week 12 - Successful Ageing - Students PDF

Week 12: 3012PSY Successful Ageing Learning Objectives Describe the meaning of successful ageing Understand how heath promotion and quality of life can enhance competence and prevent illness Describe SOC model and relate to successful ageing Describe 4 types of prevention The Depe...

Week 12: 3012PSY Successful Ageing Learning Objectives Describe the meaning of successful ageing Understand how heath promotion and quality of life can enhance competence and prevent illness Describe SOC model and relate to successful ageing Describe 4 types of prevention The Dependency Ratio: The number of people under 15 compared to the number of people over 65 Successful Ageing Biomedical theories defined in terms of the optimisation of life expectancy while minimising physical and mental deterioration and disability Sociopsychological models emphasise life satisfaction, social participation and functioning, and psychological resources, including personal growth Rowe and Kahn A person was deemed to have successfully aged if the person: 1. Lives free of disability or disease 2. Has high cognitive and physical abilities 3. Is interacting with others in meaningful ways Valliant Three criteria related to health: ­ No physical disability at age 75 ­ Good subjective health ­ Length of undisabled life Three related to social and productive activity: ­ Good mental health ­ Objective social support ­ Self-rated life satisfaction in eight domains How do you predict successful ageing? Six domains of functioning (objective & subjective physical health, length of active life, objective & subjective mental health, social support) ­Individuals who did well in all 6 areas until age 80 were classified as “happy-well” ­Those who were both psycho-socially unhappy and physically disabled were “sad-sick” ­Those who fell in between were classified as intermediate OUTCOMES College cohort City cohort ­ Happy-well=26%(62){>80} ­ Happy-well=29%(95){>70} ­ Intermediate=32%(75){77.6} ­ Intermediate=34%(114){65.6} ­ Sad-sick=17%(40){71.4} ­ Sad-sick=14%(48){62.3} ­ Prematurely ­ Prematurely dead=25%(60){62.3} dead=23%(75){55.0} What Predicts Outcomes? Controllable variables: ­ Smoking ­ Alcohol ­ Exercise ­ BMI ­ Stable marriage ­ Maturity of defenses Uncontrollable variables: ­ Depression ­ Parental social class ­ Warmth of childhood ­ Ancestral longevity ­ Childhood temperament ­ Objective disability at age 50 What Predicts Outcomes? Exercise and education are indirect measures of self-care and perseverance Both appeared to be important predictors of multiple domains of successful ageing Preseverance (tested by the 5 mts treadmill test) at age 19 predicts 61% happy-well vs. 13% of the sad-sick (NOT explained by physical fitness) Criticisms and Controversies 1. Successful ageing implies some people are “unsuccessful” 2. People have the resources to live a healthy life 3. Access to health care 4. Live in a safe environment 5. Have life experiences that support individual decision making Alternative terms used by other researchers include healthy ageing, ageing well, effective ageing, and productive ageing Selection, Optimization, and Compensation (SOC) ­ Baltes: Development comprises developmental trajectories of growth and decline ­ Internal and external resources are finite, ageing brings about change in availability and efficiency of resources ­ The (pro)active role of the individual in successful ageing ­ People can use their resources to promote continued growth and the maintenance of functioning in the face of losses and people both react to environmental demands, as well as shaping their environment to fit their needs SOC ­ One important way in which individuals play an active role in their development is by choosing, committing to, and pursuing a set of goals. SOC model of goal selection and goal pursuit: ­ Selection = Developing, elaborating and committing to goals (elective and loss-based) ­ Optimization = Application and refinement of goal- relevant means and actions ­ Compensation = Acquiring new resources or activating unused internal or external resources for alternative means of pursuing goals