Critical perspectives on successful aging: does it "appeal more than it illuminates"?

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology of Aging
• Public Health

Background:

• The concept of "successful aging" has been widely adopted in gerontology as an optimistic framework.
• It has inspired related terms like "healthy," "positive," "active," "productive," and "effective" aging.
• Despite its popularity, the Rowe-Kahn model of successful aging has faced significant criticism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine the Rowe-Kahn successful aging paradigm from a gerontological perspective.
• To explore the empirical, methodological, and theoretical limitations of the successful aging model.
• To investigate the model's inattention to social inequalities and their impact on aging experiences.

Main Methods:

• Critical gerontological analysis of the Rowe-Kahn successful aging paradigm.
• Review of empirical and methodological limitations.
• Examination of theoretical assumptions regarding individual choice and lifestyle.
• Analysis of social inequalities (income, gender, race, ethnicity) in the U.S. context.

Main Results:

• The Rowe-Kahn model exhibits empirical and methodological limitations.
• It relies on theoretical assumptions of individual choice that may not apply universally.
• The paradigm largely ignores intersecting issues of social inequality, health disparities, and age relations.
• Significant differences in aging experiences exist across income, gender, racial, ethnic, and age groups in the U.S.

Conclusions:

• The successful aging paradigm, as currently defined, may inadvertently promote social exclusion.
• There is a need to re-evaluate the future direction of successful aging research.
• Future research should incorporate a more nuanced understanding of social determinants and diverse aging experiences.