Active aging – resilience and external support as modifiers of the disablement outcome: AGNES cohort study protocol

Abstract

BackgroundPopulation aging increases the need for knowledge on positive aspects of aging, and contributions of older people to their own wellbeing and that of others. We defined active aging as an individual’s striving for elements of wellbeing with activities as per their goals, abilities and opportunities. This study examines associations of health, health behaviors, health literacy and functional abilities, environmental and social support with active aging and wellbeing. We will develop and validate assessment methods for physical activity and physical resilience suitable for research on older people, and examine their associations with active aging and wellbeing. We will examine cohort effects on functional phenotypes underlying active aging and disability.MethodsFor this population-based study, we plan to recruit 1000 participants aged 75, 80 or 85 years living in central Finland, by drawing personal details from the population register. Participants are interviewed on active aging, wellbeing, disability, environmental and social support, mobility, health behavior and health literacy. Physical activity and heart rate are monitored for 7 days with wearable sensors. Functional tests include hearing, vision, muscle strength, reaction time, exercise tolerance, mobility, and cognitive performance. Clinical examination by a nurse and physician includes an electrocardiogram, tests of blood pressure, orthostatic regulation, arterial stiffness, and lung function, as well as a review of chronic and acute conditions and prescribed medications. C-reactive protein, small blood count, cholesterol and vitamin D are analyzed from blood samples. Associations of factors potentially underlying active aging and wellbeing will be studied using multivariate methods. Cohort effects will be studied by comparing test results of physical and cognitive functioning with results of a cohort examined in 1989–90.ConclusionsThe current study will renew research on positive gerontology through the novel approach to active aging and by suggesting new biomarkers of resilience and active aging. Therefore, high interdisciplinary impact is expected. This cross-sectional study will not provide knowledge on temporal order of events or causality, but an innovative cross-sectional dataset provides opportunities for emergence of novel creative hypotheses and theories.

Psychological wellbeing and resilience among Egyptian community-dwelling older adults

“…The scale has established validity and reliability in older adults. [4,37] In the current study, Cronbach's alpha was .88.…”

“…[1] Increasing life expectancy is often associated with particularly distressing adversities. [2][3][4] For instance, aging is accompanied by frailty with decline in physical and cognitive functioning, and an increase in multiple chronic diseases. [5,6] In addition, older adults experience psychological stress resulting from loss and bereavement, [7] decline in socioeconomic status with retirement, disability, [8] as well as concomitant loss of autonomy and depression.…”

“…[12,13] Recent research has turned a focus to positive aspects of aging, personal strengths, and gains associated with aging. [4,13,14] Resilience is an internal psychological resource that facilitates older adults' ability to cope with ageing-related challenges. [9] Resilience is the ability to stand up to adversity, to "bounce back" and return to a state of equilibrium following adversity, [15] with a strong sense of purpose, perseverance and competence.…”

“…[17,18] Others conceive of resilience as an adaptive process comprising a constellation of psychosocial factors, [19][20][21] that facilitate older adults in negotiating and managing stress, thereby reducing further function disabilities. [22] Review of the aging literature indicates that resilience is associated with being physically active, [4,23] better physical health and fewer chronic illnesses, [9,10] strong social support, [21,24] adaptive coping, [12,20] and lower depression. [12,25] Psychological wellbeing is another key protective factor, [14,26,27] recognized as not only simply as attaining of pleasure and happiness, but also striving to fulfill one's true potential.…”

Perspectives on Health, Participation, and Security Related to Active Aging Among Older Adults in North-eastern Thailand – a qualitative study

“…In Finland, the University of Jyväslyöä has developed an instrument to measure active aging, called University of Jyväskylä Active Aging Scale (UJACAS). The tool consists of seventeen items focusing on activities and the capacity to maintain daily living [17]. In Thailand, a study used items including 17 selected indicators (range 0-1) to measure the active aging level and found that it is not high (average female = 0.64, male = 0.61) [18].…”