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Successful aging and well-being: self-rated compared with Rowe and Kahn.

William J Strawbridge1, Margaret I Wallhagen, Richard D Cohen

  • 1Human Population Laboratory (Public Health Institute), 2151 Berkeley Way (Annex 2), Berkeley, CA 94704-1011, USA.

The Gerontologist
|November 27, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Self-rated successful aging is a better predictor of well-being than strict criteria. Many older adults with health issues still feel they are aging successfully, highlighting the importance of subjective assessments.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Psychology of Aging
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Successful aging is a complex concept with varying definitions.
  • Existing criteria, like Rowe and Kahn's, may not fully capture older adults' perspectives.
  • Understanding subjective assessments is crucial for gerontological research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate two distinct definitions of successful aging: self-rating versus Rowe and Kahn's criteria.
  • To determine which definition better predicts overall well-being in older adults.
  • To explore discrepancies between subjective and objective measures of successful aging.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 867 participants (aged 65-99) in the Alameda County Study.
  • Assessed successful aging based on self-perception and adherence to Rowe and Kahn's criteria (absence of disease, disability, risk factors; maintained functioning; active engagement).

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  • Examined associations between each definition of successful aging and various well-being measures.

    • Main Results:

    • 50.3% of participants self-rated as aging successfully, compared to only 18.8% by Rowe and Kahn's criteria.
    • While health and functioning correlated with both definitions, many individuals with chronic conditions or functional limitations self-rated as aging successfully.
    • Self-rated successful aging demonstrated stronger associations with well-being across 14 of 15 measures.

    Conclusions:

    • Self-reported successful aging provides a more sensitive measure of well-being than objective criteria.
    • Acknowledging older adults' own assessments is vital for refining the conceptualization and measurement of successful aging.
    • Future research should incorporate subjective perspectives to better understand this multifaceted concept.