Successful aging: a theme for international psychology

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Gerontology
• Cross-Cultural Studies

Background:

• Human values and well-being are crucial aspects of adult life.
• Understanding life span variations in these factors is important for societal and individual development.
• Previous research has explored these themes, but a comprehensive international perspective across diverse age groups is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate international differences and similarities in human values and well-being across adult age groups.
• To compare four age cohorts (under 25, 25-34, 35-49, over 50) on key life satisfaction indices.
• To examine trends in job relations, human relations, material needs satisfaction, and religiosity across nations and age.

Main Methods:

• An international survey was conducted across 13 diverse nations.
• Data were collected from adult participants categorized into four distinct age groups.
• Four primary indices were measured: satisfaction with job relations, human relations, material needs, and religiosity.

Main Results:

• Individuals over 50 years reported high satisfaction in human relations, material needs, and religiosity.
• The youngest group (under 25) scored lowest on these same indices.
• The 35-49 age group exhibited the highest satisfaction with job relations.
• Observed trends were largely consistent across the participating nations.

Conclusions:

• The oldest age group (over 50) demonstrates the highest levels of contentment, satisfaction, and stability.
• Age significantly correlates with variations in human values and well-being across different life domains.
• Cross-cultural consistency in these age-related trends suggests universal developmental patterns in well-being.