Skip to main content
Log in

Coping with health problems in old age. A longitudinal approach

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An analysis of medical, psychological, and social data of the Bonn Longitudinal Study on Aging, comparing a subgroup of the BOLSA sample, which developed different forms of chronic disease four to six years after the beginning of the study, and a healthy subsample, points to different patterns of coping in these two subgroups. The sequence of these response patterns provides some evidence for a special form of psychosocial competence of chronically ill aged persons, which developed in an ‘accelerated’ way in the ill group, and in a retarded way in the initially healthy group. The findings emphasize the need for continuing research into the psychosocial aspects of coping with chronic disease in old age. (Aging Clin. Exp. Res. 4: 287–292, 1992)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lazarus R.S., Folkman S.: Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer, New York, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  2. McCrae R.R.: Age differences and changes in the use of coping mechanism. J. Gerontol. 44: 161–169, 1989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Thomae H.: Conceptualizations of responses to stress. Eur. J. Personal. Psychol. 1: 171–192, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Schmitz-Scherzer R., Thomae H.: Constancy and change of behavior in old age. In: Schaie K.W. (Ed.), Psychological studies of adult psychological development. Guilford, New York, 1983, pp. 228–229.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Lehr U., Thomae H. (Eds.). Formen seelischen Alterns. Ergebnisse der Bonner Gerontologischen Längsschnittstudie. Enke, Stuttgart, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Thomae H.: Contributions of longitudinal research to a cognitive theory of adjustment to aging. Eur. J. Personal. Psychol. 6, 1992 (in press).

  7. Kipnowski A., Kipnowski J.: Zum Problem der Krankheitsverarbeitung. D. Med. Welt 25: 1023–1026, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Thomae H., Boeger A., Kruse A., Schindler S., Würzburger I.: Reaktionen von Schlaganfallpatienten auf ihre Situation. Z. Gerontol. 18: 226–230, 1985.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kruse A.: Coping with chronic disease, dying, and death — a contribution to competence in old age. Comprehensive Gerontology 1: 1–11, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Baltes P.B.: Theoretical propositions of life span developmental psychology: on the dynamics between growth and decline. Dev. Psychol. 23: 611–626, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Lerner R.M.: On the nature of human plasticity. Cambridge University Press, New York, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Atchley R.C.: A continuity theory of normal aging. Gerontologist 29: 183–190, 1989.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lehr U., Schmitz-Scherzer R., Zimmermann.: Vergleiche von Überlebenden und Verstorbenen in der Bonner Gerontologischen Längsschnittstudie. In: Lehr U., Thomae H. (Eds.), Formen seelischen Alterns. Enke, Stuttgart, 1987, pp. 228–249.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Schneider W.F.: Zukunftsbezogene Zeitperspektive von Hochbetagten. Roderer, Regensburg, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lehr, U., Kruse, A. Coping with health problems in old age. A longitudinal approach. Aging Clin Exp Res 4, 287–292 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324109

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324109

Keywords

Navigation