Middle-aged preparation for healthy aging: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Healthy aging preparation is crucial for enhancing quality of life in older age.
• Middle-aged individuals require proactive strategies to address future challenges.
• Understanding preparation levels informs targeted interventions for aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the extent and nature of preparation for healthy aging among middle-aged individuals in Tehran, Iran.
• To identify key dimensions of preparation, including health, financial, outlook, and time management.
• To explore factors influencing preparation for older age in the Iranian context.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews with 23 middle-aged participants (45-59 years).
• Purposive sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved.
• Content analysis using MAXQDA 10 software for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Preparation for aging encompassed four domains: staying healthy, financial future, outlook on aging, and productive use of time.
• Participants prioritized 'staying healthy' but expressed significant financial pessimism about the future.
• Outlook on aging and planning for productive time use received less attention.

Conclusions:

• Middle-aged Iranians exhibit insufficient preparation and planning for healthy aging.
• Preparation for aging is influenced more by societal economic conditions than individual behavioral factors.
• National policies and interventions are essential to support healthy aging preparation.