What Does Successful Aging Mean? Lay Perception of Successful Aging Among Elderly Singaporeans

Abstract

As compared with the western model of successful aging, the elderly individuals in Singapore perceived successful aging with a strong focus on familism. These lay perceptions also significantly varied among these elderly individuals.

Defining Successful Aging: Perceptions From Elderly Chinese in Hawai‘i

“…To elderly Chinese in Hawai‘i, the successful aging item that received the most acknowledgment is to hold a positive emotion—“to be happy (95.6%).” This is consistent with findings in Asian societies including Singapore (99.1%) ( Feng & Straughan, 2017 ), Shanghai (98.1%), and China (see Appendix ). According to the broaden-and-build theory ( Fredrickson, 1998 , 2001 ), daily exposure to positive emotions is likely to compound over time to help individuals build important cognitive, psychological, and social resources that are critical for them to take advantage of opportunities and to meet challenges.…”

“…Findings reveal that positive emotions, an engaged life, good health, supportive social networks, and economic independence are among the most important components of successful aging from the perspective of elderly Chinese. Some of the identified components (i.e., good health and social engagement) are consistent with the biomedical model, some (i.e., happiness and economic security) are consistent with findings in other Asian societies ( Chong et al, 2006 ; Feng & Straughan, 2017 ; Hsu, 2007 ), and others (i.e., mutual support with family members) are distinctive characteristics that are unique to the context of Hawai‘i. In line with findings from previous studies ( Hung, Kempen, & De Vries, 2010 ), our results indicate the importance of the psychosocial model ( Ouwehand, de Ridder, & Bensing, 2007 ) in understanding successful aging among elderly Chinese in Hawai‘i.…”

“…Respondents were asked to rate how important (ranging from 1 = not at all important to 5 = very important ) they think of the 12 successful aging items developed in a study conducted in Singapore ( Feng & Straughan, 2017 ) and applied among the elderly population in Shanghai, China ( Gu et al, 2017 ). Before implementing these items, we have consulted experts that are familiar with Chinese older adults and Chinese immigrant populations in the United States, China, and Singapore, and modified the response categories accordingly.…”

“…There is empirical evidence, suggesting the importance of culture in understanding “successful aging.” Using the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), Hank (2011) revealed significant cross-national differences in rates of “successful aging.” Comparing perceptions of aging across 26 cultures from six continents, another study ( Lockenhoff et al, 2009 ) disclosed that basic patterns of aging perceptions are largely shared across cultures, but the effect of culture is the strongest for aspects of aging perceptions such as socio-emotional functioning and perceived societal views on aging. For instance, in East Asia, financial security, social support from family and friends, and happiness are greatly valued among older adults as additional essential components of successful aging ( Chong, Ng, Woo, & Kwan, 2006 ; Feng & Straughan, 2017 ; Hsu, 2007 ). In the United States, some studies also found culture related racial and ethnic differences in the perceptions of aging well ( Laditka et al, 2009 ; Lewis, 2011 ), but data and findings on Chinese Americans are limited.…”

Book Review: Successful Aging as a Contemporary Obsession: Global Perspectives

“…While these values contradict those undergirding models of "successful aging", her study participants are elders in their 90s and 100s who feel content in their lives against all odds. Many studies examining "successful aging" note that the majority of older adults who hold to this model do not readily discuss decline or death (Feng and Straughan, 2017;Kim et al, 2015;Lamb, 2014). This indicates the analytical validity of the more realistic concept of "comfortable aging," which "requires personal acceptance of vulnerability, disability and mortality" as well as "listening to elders and their desires" (229).…”