Age, Individual Resources, and Perceived Expectations for Active Aging: General and Domain-Specific Effects

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology of Health
• Psychology of Aging

Background:

• Societal expectations for active aging are increasingly prevalent.
• Understanding factors influencing these expectations is crucial for promoting healthy aging.
• Individual resources may play a role in how people perceive active aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between age, individual resources, and perceived expectations for active aging (PEAA).
• To examine these relationships across three domains: physical health, mental health, and social engagement.
• To identify how socioeconomic status, social integration, and health influence PEAA.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study using a nationally representative sample of adults aged 17-94 (N=2,007).
• Multiple regression analysis was employed to examine the predictors of PEAA.
• PEAA was assessed across physical health, mental health, and social engagement domains.

Main Results:

• Young adults and individuals aged 70+ reported slightly lower PEAA compared to emerging adults.
• Higher subjective socioeconomic status, better perceived general health, and partnership (in older adults) predicted higher PEAA across most domains.
• Other resources like church attendance, employment, and occupational prestige showed domain- and age-specific effects, not always positive.

Conclusions:

• The influence of individual resources on PEAA is generally limited.
• The impact of resources on PEAA is contingent upon the specific life domain and age group.
• Targeted interventions may need to consider age and domain-specific factors to effectively shape active aging expectations.