6. Trending: Positive Ageing Flashcards
Kontsova, 2014_ suggests that
there is evidence to suggest that when this negative picture does not align with the person’s earlier conception of themselves, there is increased risk of reduced self-esteem, self-hatred, and depression
(O’Mahony, 2012) the view that older people are set in their ways and unable or unwilling to change their behaviour may colour the views of
health care professionals in terms of willingness to engage older people in interventions
According to Fernandez-Ballesteros (2003), there are two broad goals of the positive ageing perspective:
- To develop and implement strategies that promote successful ageing by changing modifiable factors linked to illness, optimising capabilities, increasing social interactions and enhancing engagement in life; and,
- Explore psychological constructs linked to ageing well.
Some of individual characteristics proposed as central to positive ageing are
Cognitive reserve
Mastery
Self-efficacy
Wisdom
Resilience
Spirituality
Purposeful engagement/sense of purpose
Cognitive reserve
An active model in which brain plasticity maintain neural processes thought to be enhanced through engagement with cognitively meaningful and stimulating activities.
Mastery
A global sense of control over life and the future. High mastery is linked with reduced anxiety, greater problem solving and is protective against the impact of hardship (financial, health changes).
Self-efficacy
High self-efficacy is linked to a higher quality of life, less loneliness, less distress, better cognitive function.
Wisdom
Thought to consist of three domains – cognitive, affective and reflective.
Cognitive wisdom is reflected in expert knowledge, reasoning and problem-solving skills, and sound decision making.
Affective wisdom encompasses positive emotions, the ability to regulate emotions and the experience of fewer negative emotions.
Reflective wisdom is the ability to accept the views of others and overcome subjective perspectives.
Resilience
The ability to maintain subjective wellbeing despite experiencing challenges.
Spirituality
Proposed as an element of positive ageing due to the meaning religiosity/spirituality can contribute to life, but also demonstrated links between religious involvement and adaptation to illness, greater resilience, and improved health behaviours. Self-reflection and the search for existential meaning can also contribute towards positive ageing.
Purposeful engagement/sense of purpose
In activities that maintain social roles, align with personal values, and are meaningful to the individual. Essentially involves the setting of and fulfilling objectives, ongoing learning, and viewing life as having potential.
Meta-analyses and systematic reviews indicate that greater levels of loneliness and social isolation are associated with
cardiovascular disease, decreased quality of life, depression, poorer cognitive functioning and increased mortality in older adults
As social isolation and loneliness are common problems for older adults, some positive ageing interventions have aimed to reduce
levels of loneliness and social isolation in older adults
Gardiner, Geldenhuys, and Gott (2018) conducted a review of 38 studies reporting on such interventions and found that while the majority of the interventions were successful in reducing isolation and loneliness, the interventions were
too diverse, limiting the extent to which conclusions could be drawn
Gardiner, Geldenhuys, and Gott (2018) identified the most effective interventions as
Adopted a community development approach;
Had the ability to be adapted to fit a specific local area;
Focused on productive engagement (e.g., creating opportunities for socialisation and forming new social networks).
