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

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).
• 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.