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Life changes, coping resources, and health among the elderly.
International Journal of Aging & Human Development
|January 1, 1984
Summary
For older adults, common coping resources like social support and self-esteem do not buffer against life changes. Instead, these factors may worsen negative health outcomes, unlike income.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Research indicates a link between life changes and health decline.
- Coping resources (buffers) help mitigate stress from life changes in younger populations.
- Existing research primarily focuses on young and middle-aged individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if established coping resources function similarly for elderly individuals.
- To examine the role of confidants, social networks, marital status, self-esteem, occupational status, and income as buffers in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of coping resources in a sample of elderly individuals.
- Comparison of findings with previous studies on younger populations.
Main Results:
- Most studied factors (confidant, social network, marital status, self-esteem, occupation) did not act as buffers for the aged.
- Some factors appeared to inhibit coping, worsening the health effects of life change.
- Income was the exception, showing potential buffering effects.
Conclusions:
- Coping resources effective for younger adults may not apply to the elderly.
- Certain social and psychological factors can exacerbate stress in older individuals facing life changes.
- Further research is needed to understand unique aging-related stress and coping mechanisms.