Abstract
The heterogeneity in the operationalisation of successful ageing (SA) hinders a straightforward examination of SA associations and correlates, and in turn, the identification of potentially modifiable predictors of SA. It is unclear which SA associations and correlates influence all facets of the SA construct, and whether psychosocial reserve models developed in neuropathological ageing research can also be linked to SA. It was therefore the aim of this study to disentangle the effect of various previously identified SA associations and correlates on (1) a general SA factor, which represents the shared underpinnings of three SA facets, and (2) more confined, specific factors, using bifactor modelling. The associations and correlates of three recently validated SA operationalisations were compared in 2478 participants from the German AgeCoDe study, aged 75 years and above. Based on participants’ main occupation, cognitive reserve (CR) and motivational reserve (MR) models were built. Younger age, male gender, more education, higher socio-economic status, being married or widowed, as well as more physical exercise and cognitive activities in old age were found to correlate positively with the general SA factor, indicating a simultaneous effect on all aspects of SA. Smoking and ApoE-ε4 were related only to the physiological facet of SA. CR models were significantly related to the general SA factor. Among all SA associations and correlates, proxy indicators of lifelong cognitive activity and physical exercise showed the strongest effects on SA. Future intervention studies should assess the influence of the preservation of active lifestyle across the life span on SA.
Highlights
Salutogenic ageing models, such as active ageing, or successful ageing (SA) have evolved in recent decades to counter-balance the predominantly deficit-oriented, pathological approach to ageing
Successful ageing is an appealing and frequently employed research construct involving different aspects of biopsychosocial functioning (Kleineidam et al 2018). It was unclear in the literature whether previously identified associations and correlates of SA simultaneously affected all components of the multifaceted SA construct, or whether the associations and correlations derived solely from effects on specific, selective facets of the holistic SA construct
Further investigations into the causal impact of these factors would be important with regard to public health recommendations, as targeted intervention for these general factors could maximize the impact on the ageing course as a whole, compared to interventions for specific factors that influence only single aspects of SA
Summary
Salutogenic ageing models, such as active ageing, or successful ageing (SA) have evolved in recent decades to counter-balance the predominantly deficit-oriented, (psycho) pathological approach to ageing. Extended author information available on the last page of the article by the World Health Organization (WHO), as “... The process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age” It is currently predominantly used in Europe as a policy framework to address population ageing (with a focus on activity, participation, and productivity of older members of society). The early influential psychological SA model from Baltes and Baltes (1990) understands successful lifelong development (including ageing) as a process that consists of the components selection, optimization, and compensation. One of the most influential (and often criticized) health-based SA models is the multidimensional MacArthur model, which encompasses the lack of (risk factors for) physical disease, high cognitive and physical functioning, as well as engagement in social and
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