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Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine pp 1–3Cite as

Positive Aging

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Synonyms

Active aging; Proactive aging; Productive aging; Resilient aging

Definition

Positive aging incorporates concepts and research from developmental psychology, gerontology, and positive psychology to understand and improve the health and broader well-being of older adults (usually defined as those over 65 years old). It is the ability to adapt positively to and make the best of the experiences of aging, including maintaining well-being in the face of age-related events and transitions (such as multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, sensory decline, caregiving duties, and bereavement). The term positive aging developed out of dissatisfaction with the term successful aging, which (at least initially) required the absence of both chronic illnesses and cognitive decline. Many older adults describe themselves as aging successfully despite having chronic illnesses and functional decline, and their own definitions of successful aging include not merely health, but also activity,...

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References and Further Reading

  • Greeson, J. M., Chin, G. R. (2019). Mindfulness and physical disease: a concise review. Current Opinion in Psychology, 28, 204–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.12.014.

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  • Hill, R. D., & Smith, D. J. (2015). Positive aging: At the crossroads of positive psychology and geriatric medicine. In P. A. Lichtenberg, B. T. Mast, B. D. Carpenter, & J. Loebach Wetherell (Eds.), APA handbook of clinical geropsychology, vol 1: History and status of the field and perspectives on aging (pp. 301–329). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

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  • Krause, N., & Hayward, D. (2012). Religion, meaning in life, and change in physical functioning during late adulthood. Journal of Adult Development, 19, 158–169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-012-9143-5.

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  • Ong, A. D., Mroczek, D. K., & Riffin, C. (2011). The health significance of positive emotions in adulthood and later life. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 5(8), 538–551. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9004.2011.00370.x.

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  • Perez-Blasco, J., Sales, A., Meléndez, J. C., & Mayordomo, T. (2016). The effects of mindfulness and self-compassion on improving the capacity to adapt to stress situations in elderly people living in the community. Clinical Gerontologist, 39(2), 90–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2015.1120253.

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  • Perry, T. E., Ruggiano, N., Shtompel, N., & Hassevoort, L. (2015). Applying Erikson’s wisdom to self-management practices of older adults: Findings from two field studies. Research on Aging, 37(3), 253–274. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027514527974.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Susan J. (Sue) Ferguson

Authors
  1. Susan J. (Sue) Ferguson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susan J. (Sue) Ferguson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Marc Gellman

Section Editor information

  1. Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Kerry A. Sherman

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Ferguson, S.J.(. (2020). Positive Aging. In: Gellman, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_101976-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_101976-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6439-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6439-6

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