Valuation of Life in Old and Very Old Age: The Role of Sociodemographic, Social, and Health Resources for Positive Adaptation

Jopp, Daniela S.; Rott, Christoph; Oswald, Frank

doi:10.1093/geront/48.5.646

Cited by 101 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Furthermore, when subjective health decreased subjective nearness to death increased. These results are similar to those of studies showing that a higher age and poor health are predictive of lower levels of valuation of life in old and very old age (Jopp et al 2008;Lawton et al 2002). Of interest is the seemingly contradictory finding that although men are likely to die earlier than women (as indicated by a significant effect of gender in the survival analysis) yet, compared to women, they report feeling less close to death (as indicated by a significant effect of gender in the multilevel analysis).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Predicting one’s own death: the relationship between subjective and objective nearness to death in very old age

2010

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Previous research found that the perception of a limited remaining lifetime is related to goal setting, social network composition, attitudes, and behavior. However, to better understand those findings, it is important to know if this subjective perception of being close to death corresponds with the time a person actually survives. The aim of the present study was to examine the predictive and timedynamic relationship between subjective and objective nearness to death using 16-year longitudinal data from the Berlin Aging Study (Baltes and Mayer 1999; N = 516 older adults between 70 and 104 years). Older adults who felt close to death at the first measurement occasion were more likely to die over the following 16 years than persons who did not report feeling close to dying. Results of multilevel analyses revealed that there was a time-dynamic relationship such that subjective nearness to death increased as a function of objective nearness to death. Our results indicate that very old adults seem to have quite accurate perceptions of their nearness to death.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Predicting one’s own death: the relationship between subjective and objective nearness to death in very old age

2010

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“…For example, valuation studies suggest that the oldest-old, in contrast to the young-old, seem to value social contact by phone over face-to-face support (Jopp, Rott, & Oswald, 2008), which may reflect a changing set of values with age and a psychological adaptation to declining abilities (Scheetz et al, 2012). In contrast to definitions of resilience that denote thriving, in advanced age, loss management may be as important as regaining previous levels of function (Greve & Staudinger, 2006).…”

Section: Resilience Is Context-specific à Advanced Age As a Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resilience in context: the special case of advanced age

Hayman

Kerse

Consedine

2016

Aging & Mental Health

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Objectives: Advanced age is a time shaped by the current experience of physical, social and psychological characteristics associated with living into an eighth decade and beyond and also by reflection upon past experiences. Understanding the specific factors that contribute to ageing well is increasingly important as greater numbers of older people remain living independently in the community and may require targeted and sustainable support to do so. This paper offers a conceptualisation of resilience for advanced age (age 85C), a life stage currently under-researched. Method: We utilise a developmental and socio-historical context to develop key arguments about adversity, resources and positive outcomes that affect the experience of resilient ageing. Results: Very late life is characterised by a unique balance between losses, associated with vulnerability and resource restrictions, and potential gains based upon wisdom, experience, autonomy and accumulated systems of support, providing a specific context for the expression of resilience. Post-adversity growth is possible, but maintenance of everyday abilities may be more relevant to resilience in advanced age. Conclusion: An increasing life-span globally necessitates creative and conscientious thought about wellbeing, and resilience research has the important aim to focus health and wellness on success and what is possible despite potential limitations.

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“…How do old individuals do this-overcome the challenges of old age and stay happy in spite of all those losses? After examining the influence of many individual resources, which show only a limited relationship to well-being (e.g., income situation, educational level, family status, cognitive abilities, physical health, social network [22,25,37,[41][42][43][44], recent gerontological research confirms that psychological strengths seems to be critical to the positive development and resilience in old and very old age [4,5]. These are beliefs and attitudes about one self, life, and aging, which include constructs such as self-esteem, optimism, self-efficacy, and control beliefs, as well as existential constructs such as personal meaning for life, purpose in life and will to live [21,[45][46][47][48][49].…”

Section: Very Old Agementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, adaptation activities to new development requirements are necessary across the entire lifespan, but they may be especially of particular importance in late life due to accumulating losses. Paradoxically, numerous studies document an impressing resilience and adaptability in old and very old age [21][22][23][24][25]. Despite all limitations and losses, older adults maintain a positive sense of subjective well-being, which can by understood as an indicator for a successful adaptation [26,27].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive Gerontology: Well-Being and sychological Strengths in Old Age

Wozniak

Jopp²

2015

J Gerontol Geriatric Res

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The public discussion about old age and aging is often focused on losses that occur in many areas of life. The deteriorating state of health, the loss of independence, the increased need of nursing care,as well as the increased risk for dementia and memory loss are automatically associated with the aging process by many people. Unfortunately, this deficit-oriented and pessimistic view also determines the scientific examination of old age. However, there are two important points that this perspective ignores. First, aging is not a homogeneous process, but can take a range of different courses [1][2][3]. Second, old age is not characterized only by risks and losses, but has also extensive strengths that are essential to maintain positive well-being in spite of losses [4,5].The heterogeneity in old age is one of the main findings in gerontological research [6][7][8]. With respect to their functioning, individuals of the same advanced age can be very different from each other, whereas individuals of the same younger age can be very much alike. Further, there is also empirical indication that old age is not a single phase of life but can be divided into (at least) two phases [9][10][11][12]. The third age is characterized by physical and mental fitness, good social integration and high activity level. In addition, the so called young old individuals show a high level of emotional and cognitive well-being [7]. In contrast, the fourth age seems to be less positive. The oldest old individuals often suffer from several chronic diseases and have cognitive limitations [13][14][15][16]. Furthermore, their social network is significantly reduced [17], and many of them need increased support and assistance or even long term care [18][19][20]. Baltes and Smith [7] showed that 80% of very old participants of the Berlin Aging Study suffer from losses in three to six areas such as vision, hearing, strength, functional capacity, intelligence, and physical health. In sum, among these very old study participants there was a high degree of functional impairment and multimorbidity, as well as a substantial prevalence of dementia (approximately 50% at the age of 90 years and above). Gerontology speaks in this particular context of a very vulnerable stage of life in which the increasing losses and deficits are juxtaposed within sufficient opportunities for their compensation [9].Here one could ask, if, in face of a steady decline in health condition and mental function, the life in very old age is valuable and worth living at all. Can individuals adapt successfully to the changes that occur in very old age? Indeed, adaptation activities to new development requirements are necessary across the entire lifespan, but they may be especially of particular importance in late life due to accumulating losses. Paradoxically, numerous studies document an impressing resilience and adaptability in old and very old age [21][22][23][24][25]. Despite all limitations and losses, older adults maintain a positive sense of subjective well-being, which can ...

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Valuation of Life in Old and Very Old Age: The Role of Sociodemographic, Social, and Health Resources for Positive Adaptation

Abstract: Age-differential predictive values of the resources seem to indicate positive adaptation to aging. Taking into account such prediction patterns may help to design specific interventions for young-old and old-old individuals.

Cited by 101 publications

References 19 publications

Predicting one’s own death: the relationship between subjective and objective nearness to death in very old age

Predicting one’s own death: the relationship between subjective and objective nearness to death in very old age

Resilience in context: the special case of advanced age

Positive Gerontology: Well-Being and sychological Strengths in Old Age

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