SUCCESSFUL AGEING CAN BE ACHIEVED

BY EVERYONE
 Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3

Role of Psychological factors in Successful Aging.......................................................................3

 Adjusting to the Changes......................................................................................................3

 Perspective and Prospects of Living.....................................................................................3

 Religious Beliefs...................................................................................................................3

 Status.....................................................................................................................................4

 Wealth...................................................................................................................................4

 Social Support Group...........................................................................................................5

 Adapting with the Decreasing Abilities................................................................................5

Statistical Analysis of the Impacts of Psychological Factors.........................................................6

Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9

Reference.......................................................................................................................................10
INTRODUCTION
Due to the advancement in medical science and social support groups the average lifespans in the
West has increased. Now, people are curious about what factors are contributing to age and live
well. From the very early dawn of human civilization, they seem to be interested in longevity and
were curious about how to remain in the best health in their later years. Living in good health is
nothing but freedom from chronic disease and disability. Higher physical and psychological
functioning to perform well social engagement is also desired. Therefore, this assessment will
describe the psychological factors that affects the human life span and their aging.

ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN SUCCESSFUL AGING

• Adjusting to the Changes

Changes are inhabitable. From a human birth to old age, there are so much changes that occur in
his surroundings. Late adulthood requires that an individual is able to adapt to the changes that
are common to people’s lives around them (Achenbaum, 2011). There is a positive correlation
between someone’s coping skills and the environment around others to age more successfully.

• Perspective and Prospects of Living

Though successful aging appears to be paradoxical, because then the mind thinks of losses,
decline, and death. On the contrary, successful aging is represented by achieving mental
calmness whatever the age is. Successful aging requires a value based, systemic, and ecological
perspective which is both subjective and objective. With medical advancements people can live
longer, but the prospect of living longer cause introduces many problems to an individual. This
fact made the psychological aspects of aging more important, to make the additional living
years’ worth living.

• Religious Beliefs

Religious beliefs, spirituality, and church participation has increased the mental peace among
older adults. Associating religiousness with well-being, life satisfaction or happiness are
beneficial to which outcomes. Religious participation enables elderly people to cope with and
tackle their emotional and physical problems more effectively. Persons who engage in religious
activity are more than four times less likely to commit suicide. Religious beliefs help elderly
people cope with or prevent depression and hopelessness which are responsible for suicide. The
relationship between religiousness and successful aging leads to the increased sense of
wellbeing, satisfaction, and happiness (Aldwin, Park and Spiro, 2013).

 Membership in Different Organizations

Membership in organizations also provides elder citizens with a social network from they receive
emotional support and encouragement. This enhances their ability to adapt to change and reduce
stress. Religious organizations are associated with positive health outcomes in older adults. It
lessens the risk of sudden mortality, cardiovascular disease, cancer as well as other functional
decline in their lifestyle.

Believing in religion or religious organizations can help the older people hope better and spend
time within the community to know people around better, eventually leading a good life.

• Status

The individual’s socioeconomic status affects his approach on life. Education has direct effects
on trait, health and life satisfaction. Educational accomplishment is related to better health and
increased life fulfilment. It is also possible that more educated people develop better methods for
problem solving (Physiopedia, 2020). Higher education levels have been shown to provide
individuals with better job-related opportunities, social status and greater financial stability. This
establishes education level as one’s basis for successful aging and leading lives.

• Wealth

The amount of wealth accumulated by individuals can affect their life span. Many individuals
face retirement with great concern because of lack of sufficient savings in their bank accounts
and savings. The access to extra income allows for more recreation and less stress. Therefore, the
adults who are going into retirement with enough money can lead their life more peacefully. The
relationship between education and income to successful aging is a complex one. But both
education and income levels help to prepare an individual for the changes that they will face in
old age.

 Maintain Relationships

How well individuals age is related to their ability to develop and maintain strong relationships
with family and society. Recent studies propose that the effects of social ties on the risk of
physical deterioration in elderly are more in men than women. This difference could be
explained by the fact that women devote a greater portion of their lives taking care of people
around them and developing friendships around (Aldwin, Park and Spiro, 2013). While men, in
contrast, have devoted a greater portion of their lives to their careers. Friends and family provide
them with the means to continue. This provides support for the belief that establishing strong
social networks may increase quality of life.

• Social Support Group

Social relationships and social support systems serve as protective factors from different
problems in many ways. They give individuals advantages over others. This assistance enables
an elderly person to remain socially active. But agencies can never make up for the love a family
can give. So, it is more important to reconnect with family and friends.

• Adapting with the Decreasing Abilities

With all of the physical and psychological changes that people face in late adulthood, the ability
to adapt to life conditions that force aging individuals to move from one living style to another is
a vital part of successful aging. Simply maintaining the ability to perform the everyday tasks of
living doesn’t fil the criteria. (Achenbaum, 2000). Successful aging requires the maintenance of
competence involving cognitive, personality, material, and social resources.
  Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy means believing in oneself. Those who believe in themselves can lead their life
better. Self-efficacy has been found to influence the adaptive strategies used by older adults
(Cognitive Reserve in the Healthy Elderly: Cognitive and Psychological Factors, 2014).

 Flexibility and Tenacity

Flexibility and tenacity are being persistent and being able to change life goals accordingly.
Older people with these values can hope for a better future and try harder if something goes
wrong. This way, it helps them redirect their lives towards a particular direction.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACTS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS

Most of the 425 elderly subjects interviewed were female (72.6%). Regarding age bracket,
62.5% were between 60 and 69 years of age, 37.0% were between 70 and 79 and 4.95% were
older than 79. Mean age was 69.32 years (SD = 7.06). Of those, 282 (74.1%) had less than 9
years of schooling; 184 (46.2%) were married or had a partner, and 142 (39.2%) were
widows/widowers. Health status was considered good or very good by 188 (46.95%) subjects,
whereas 74 (17.9%) perceived their health status as poor or very poor.

Regarding quality of life, 218 (54.3%) were considered successful and 185 (46.4%) were
considered normal. There were no noteworthy relative differences between males and females in
terms of successful aging (p = 0.653).

Table 1 shows the results of two groups evaluated. Successful elderly subjects showed signs of
aging better than the others. Table 2 shows the results of the comparison of the categorical
variables: gender, age bracket, perceived health status, marital status, educational level and
meaning that personal beliefs give to their lives.
 Figure 1: Student's T test, Source: scielo.br, 2020

Figure 2: Regression of Aging, Source: scielo.br, 2020

The factors that affects aging of socially-active elderly subjects were: health status and the
perception that personal beliefs give meaning to life. As a result, it was seen that people who
thought themselves to be healthy were 5.14 times more likely to be called as successful, whereas
those who stated their personal beliefs made their lives meaningful were 10.38 times more likely
to be considered successful.

Table 3 shows the analysis including: age, depression and hopelessness, as well as the factors
determined by the scales for the evaluation of quality of life used in the present study.

Figure 3: Univariate Analysis between aging & variables, Source: scielo.br, 2020

According to Table 4, only four variables presented significant and independent effect, at a
significance level of 4.9%, in relation to successful aging.

Figure 4: Multivariate Analysis, Source: scielo.br, 2020

As seen in Table 4, the test produced a p value (significance) of 0.569 in step 4 (final) of the
forward stepwise, showing that there is insufficient evidence.
Table 5 shows the result of the multiple logistic regression by gender.

Figure 5: Multivariate Analysis of Aging by gender, Source: scielo.br, 2020

CONCLUSION
At the end, we can see that those who are in good health with a great social network age better
than others. Successfully aging is not about just being healthy, but also the mental satisfaction.
Those who are suffering from physical and psychological problems, may need assistance leading
life. Aging properly will lead them towards the golden period of their life. Attitudes can affect
their perspective towards life and help them adapt. Their family and friends can help them adjust.
To conclude, it can be seen that in the future we ca do more for the elder people to age better
than now and will provide a more positive aging experience and well-being in old age.
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