Jinmyoung Cho1, Peter Martin2, Leonard W Poon3. 1. Center for Applied Health Research, Baylor Scott & White Health| School of Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station. jcho@sw.org. 2. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames. 3. Institute of Gerontology, University of Georgia, Athens.
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.
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.
Authors: Peter Martin; Maurice MacDonald; Jennifer Margrett; Ilene Siegler; Leonard W Poon; S M Jazwinski; R C Green; M Gearing; W R Markesbery; J L Woodard; M A Johnson; J S Tenover; W L Rodgers; D B Hausman; C Rott; A Davey; J Arnold Journal: J Appl Gerontol Date: 2011-09-19
Authors: Rifky Tkatch; Shirley Musich; Stephanie MacLeod; Kathleen Alsgaard; Kevin Hawkins; Charlotte S Yeh Journal: Gerontol Geriatr Med Date: 2016-09-18