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. 2015 Feb;55(1):132-43.
doi: 10.1093/geront/gnu074. Epub 2014 Aug 11.

Successful aging and subjective well-being among oldest-old adults

Jinmyoung Cho  1 , Peter Martin  2 , Leonard W Poon  3 ; Georgia Centenarian Study
Affiliations

Successful aging and subjective well-being among oldest-old adults

Jinmyoung Cho et al. Gerontologist. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose of the study: This research integrates successful aging and developmental adaptation models to empirically define the direct and indirect effects of 2 distal (i.e., education and past life experiences) and 5 proximal influences (i.e., physical functioning, cognitive functioning, physical health impairment, social resources, and perceived economic status) on subjective well-being. The proximal influences involved predictors outlined in most extant models of successful aging (e.g., Rowe & Kahn, 1998 [Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1998). Successful aging. New York: Pantheon Books.]). Our model extends such models by including distal impact as well as interactions between distal and proximal impacts.

Design and methods: Data were obtained from 234 centenarians and 72 octogenarians in the Georgia Centenarian Study. Structural equation modeling was conducted with Mplus 6.1.

Results: Results showed significant direct effects of physical health impairment and social resources on positive aspects of subjective well-being among oldest-old adults. We also found significant indirect effects of cognitive functioning and education on positive affect among oldest-old adults. Social resources mediated the relationship between cognitive functioning and positive affect; and cognitive functioning and social resources mediated the relationship between education and positive affect. In addition, physical health impairment mediated the relationship between cognitive functioning and positive affect; and cognitive functioning and physical health impairment mediated the relationship between education and positive affect.

Implications: Integrating 2 different models (i.e., successful aging and developmental adaptation) provided a comprehensive view of adaptation from a developmental perspective.

Keywords: Developmental adaptation model; Georgia Centenarian Study; Oldest-old adults; Subjective well-being; Successful aging.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Hypothesized model: Relationships among distal influences, proximal influences, and outcome.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Structural model of positive affect.Notes. Path coefficients are standardized parameter estimates. Four covariates (age, gender, ethnicity, and residence) were included in testing the effect on all endogenous variables.*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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