Resilient Aging: Psychological Well-Being and Social Well-Being as Targets for the Promotion of Healthy Aging.

Eric S Kim,Rifky Tkatch,David Martin,Stephanie Macleod,Lewis Sandy,Charlotte Yeh

doi:10.1177/23337214211002951

Abstract

Population aging is one of the most important social trends of the 21st century and in the United States, the number of people aged ≥65 is projected to increase by nearly 50% in the next 15 years. Most biomedical and public health efforts have focused on reducing harmful risk factors when targeting chronic disease—an approach that has contributed greatly to prevention and treatment programs. However, evidence suggests that the number of years lost to disability is increasing and historic gains we have made in life expectancy are eroding, and even reversing in some groups. As our society ages and grapples with these issues, expanding the focus to include resilience, as well as psychosocial assets in our prevention and treatment programs might help inform the multidisciplinary response effort we need. Here we synthesize research evaluating associations between different dimensions of psychological well-being (e.g., purpose in life, optimism, life satisfaction) and social well-being (e.g., structural, functional, quality) with chronic conditions. We also evaluate evidence around three biopsychosocial pathways hypothesized to underlie these associations. These factors are meaningful, measurable, and potentially modifiable; thus, further pursuing this line of inquiry might unveil innovative paths to enhancing the health of our rapidly aging society.

Highlights

In the United States the number of adults aged ≥65 is projected to increase by nearly 50% in the 15 years (Colby & Ortman, 2014; Suzman et al, 2015)
Average life expectancy has increased in the United States, so has the number of years lost to disability, and historic gains we have made in life expectancy over the last several decades are beginning to erode or even reverse in some groups (Murphy et al, 2018; Salomon et al, 2012)
The burden of chronic disease rises with age and most psychological, biomedical, and public health efforts have focused on reducing harmful risk factors when targeting chronic disease—an approach that has contributed greatly to prevention and treatment programs

Summary

Introduction

In the United States the number of adults aged ≥65 is projected to increase by nearly 50% in the 15 years (Colby & Ortman, 2014; Suzman et al, 2015). We focused on psychological and social factors that contribute to resilience because growing research suggests they are factors that are measurable, modifiable, and linked with mechanistic processes and outcomes that contribute to healthy aging.

Results

Conclusion