BACKGROUND: There is currently a lack of consensus on the definition of successful aging (SA) and existing implementations have omitted constructs associated with SA. We used empirical methods to develop a dimensional model of SA that incorporates a wider range of associated variables, and we examined the relationship among these components using factor analysis and Bayesian Belief Nets. METHODS: We administered a successful aging questionnaire comprising several standardized measures related to SA to a sample of 1948 older women enrolled in the San Diego site of the Women's Health Initiative study. The SA-related variables we included in the model were self-rated successful aging, depression severity, physical and emotional functioning, optimism, resilience, attitude towards own aging, self-efficacy, and cognitive ability. After adjusting for age, education and income, we fitted an exploratory factor analysis model to the SA-related variables and then, in order to address relationships among these factors, we computed a Bayesian Belief Net (BBN) using rotated factor scores. RESULTS: The SA-related variables loaded onto five factors. Based on the loading, we labeled the factors as follows: self-rated successful aging, cognition, psychosocial protective factors, physical functioning, and emotional functioning. In the BBN, self-rated successful aging emerged as the primary downstream factor and exhibited significant partial correlations with psychosocial protective factors, physical/general status and mental/emotional status but not with cognitive ability. CONCLUSIONS: Our study represents a step forward in developing a dimensional model of SA. Our findings also point to a potential role for psychiatry in improving successful aging by managing depressive symptoms and developing psychosocial interventions to improve self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism.
BACKGROUND: There is currently a lack of consensus on the definition of successful aging (SA) and existing implementations have omitted constructs associated with SA. We used empirical methods to develop a dimensional model of SA that incorporates a wider range of associated variables, and we examined the relationship among these components using factor analysis and Bayesian Belief Nets. METHODS: We administered a successful aging questionnaire comprising several standardized measures related to SA to a sample of 1948 older women enrolled in the San Diego site of the Women's Health Initiative study. The SA-related variables we included in the model were self-rated successful aging, depression severity, physical and emotional functioning, optimism, resilience, attitude towards own aging, self-efficacy, and cognitive ability. After adjusting for age, education and income, we fitted an exploratory factor analysis model to the SA-related variables and then, in order to address relationships among these factors, we computed a Bayesian Belief Net (BBN) using rotated factor scores. RESULTS: The SA-related variables loaded onto five factors. Based on the loading, we labeled the factors as follows: self-rated successful aging, cognition, psychosocial protective factors, physical functioning, and emotional functioning. In the BBN, self-rated successful aging emerged as the primary downstream factor and exhibited significant partial correlations with psychosocial protective factors, physical/general status and mental/emotional status but not with cognitive ability. CONCLUSIONS: Our study represents a step forward in developing a dimensional model of SA. Our findings also point to a potential role for psychiatry in improving successful aging by managing depressive symptoms and developing psychosocial interventions to improve self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism.
Authors: Dilip V Jeste; Gauri N Savla; Wesley K Thompson; Ipsit V Vahia; Danielle K Glorioso; A'verria Sirkin Martin; Barton W Palmer; David Rock; Shahrokh Golshan; Helena C Kraemer; Colin A Depp Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2013-02 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Raeanne C Moore; Lisa T Eyler; Brent T Mausbach; Zvinka Z Zlatar; Wesley K Thompson; Guerry Peavy; Pariya L Fazeli; Dilip V Jeste Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2014-08-15 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Raeanne C Moore; David J Moore; Wesley K Thompson; Ipsit V Vahia; Igor Grant; Dilip V Jeste Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 4.384
Authors: Anna A Rubtsova; Gina Wingood; Ighovwerha Ofotokun; C Christina Mehta; Deborah Gustafson; David E Vance; Anjali Sharma; Adaora A Adimora; Marcia Holstad Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2021-06-11
Authors: David J Moore; Pariya L Fazeli; Raeanne C Moore; Steven P Woods; Scott L Letendre; Dilip V Jeste; Igor Grant Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2018-05