Synonyms
Definition
Adjustment to aging is a concept based on different theoretical models, ideas, underlying relationships, and research strategies that can help to comprehend the expansion of current and future cohorts in old age (von Humboldt 2016). Adjustment to aging was initially considered as a combination of the person’s adjustments in different areas of experience, namely, religion, recreation, economic security, employment, family, and friends, together with the overall happiness and satisfaction of the person with his or her situation. Based on the idea of balance, the establishment of the concept of adjustment to aging highlighted that it should be examined as a dynamic process (Burgess et al. 1948).
Overview
The most pertinent theoretical models related to adjustment to aging only became noticeable after the Second World War. Subsequently, correlates and effects of adjustment to aging (e.g., psychological and environmental...
References
Battini E, Maciel E, Finato M (2006) Identificação de variáveis que afetam o envelhecimento: Análise comportamental de um caso clínico [Identification of aging variables: a clinical case report behavioral analysis]. Estud Psicol 23:455–462
Bloom DE, Canning D (2012) How companies must adapt for an aging workforce. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from http://hbr.org/2012/12/how-companies-must-adapt-for-a/
Bureau of Labor Statistics (2009) Volunteers by selected characteristics, September 2009, and previous years. Retrieved from http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/print.pl/news.release.volun.t01.htm
Burgess EW, Cavan RS, Havighurst RJ (1948) Your activities and attitudes. Science Research Associates, Chicago
Butler SS, Eckart D (2007) Civic engagement among older adults in a rural community: a case study of the senior companion program. J Community Pract 15(3):77–98. https://doi.org/10.1300/j125v15n03_05
Carstensen LL, Fung H, Charles S (2003) Socioemotional selectivity theory and the regulation of emotion in the second half of life. Motiv Emot 27:103–123
Cohen GD, Perlstein S, Chapline J et al (2006) The impact of professionally conducted cultural programs on the physical health, mental health, and social functioning of older adults. Gerontologist 46(6):726–734. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/46.6.726
Greenfield EA, Oberlink M, Scharlach AE et al (2015) Age-friendly community initiatives: conceptual issues and key questions. Gerontologist 55(2): 191–198. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnv005
Haski-Leventhal D (2009) Elderly volunteering and well-being: a cross-European comparison based on SHARE data. Voluntas 20:388–404
Hay J, LaBree L, Luo R et al (2002) Cost-effectiveness of preventive occupational therapy for independent-living older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 50(8):1381–1388. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1532-5415.2002.50359.x
Lewis JP (2011) Successful aging through the eyes of Alaska Natives. What it means to be an elder in Bristol Bay, AK. Gerontologist 51(4):540–547. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnr006
Mendoza-Ruvalcaba NM, von Humboldt S, Arias-Merino ED et al (2017) Cross-cultural differences in adjustment to aging: a comparison between Mexico and Portugal. Psychol Community Health 6(1): 117–127. https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v6i1.215
Siedlecki KL, Tucker-Drob EM, Oishi S et al (2008) Life satisfaction across adulthood: different determinants at different ages? J Posit Psychol 3(3):53–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760701834602
Thomae T (1992) Contributions of longitudinal research to a cognitive theory of adjustment to aging. Eur J Personal 6(2):157–175. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2410060207
United Nations (2017) The world population prospects: the 2017 revision. The United Nations, New York
von Humboldt S (2016) Conceptual and methodological issues on the adjustment to aging: perspectives on aging well. Springer, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7576-2
von Humboldt S, Leal I, Pimenta F et al (2012a) Latent constructs of adjustment to aging and subjective age in Portugal and Romania: a comparative multiple correspondence analysis. Psychol Community Health 1(1):68–80. https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v1i1.9
von Humboldt S, Leal I, Pimenta F (2012b) Analyzing adjustment to aging and subjective age from Angolan and Portuguese community-dwelling older adults’ perspectives. Int J Gerontol 27(4):209–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijge.2013.05.001
von Humboldt S, Leal I, Pimenta F et al (2013) Assessing adjustment to aging: a validation study for the Adjustment to Aging Scale (AtAS). Soc Indic Res 119(1):455–472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-013-0482-9
von Humboldt S, Leal I, Pimenta F (2014a) What predicts older adults’ adjustment to aging in later life? The impact of sense of coherence, subjective well-being and socio-demographic, lifestyle and health-related factors. Educ Gerontol 40(9):641–654. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2013.860757
von Humboldt S, Leal I, Pimenta F (2014b) Does spirituality really matter? – a study on the potential of spirituality to older adult’s adjustment to aging. Jpn Psychol Res 56:114–125. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpr.12033
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
von Humboldt, S. (2019). Adjustment to Aging. In: Gu, D., Dupre, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69892-2_71-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69892-2_71-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-69892-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-69892-2
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences