Exploring a new theory of successful aging among low-income older adults in an independent and assisted living community.

Successful aging;Mid-range theory;Adaptation;Aging Policy;Transcendence

Valerie Lander McCarthy

University:University of Louisville

Department:Nursing

关键词: Successful aging;    Mid-range theory;    Adaptation;    Aging Policy;    Transcendence;   

Others  :  https://ir.library.louisville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1933&context=etd

美国|英语

来源: The Universite of Louisville's Institutional Repository

【 摘 要 】

BACKGROUND: Current successful aging theory excludes individuals with disease ordisability, limits the potential for successful aging in minority and lower socioeconomicpopulations, focuses on behavioral determinants of health rather than social andenvironmental determinants, and fails to consider older adults' own criteria for successfulaging. A recent mid-range nursing theory (Flood, 2005) proposed that two factors -adaptation and gerotranscendence - are primary contributors to a new view of successfulaging that may address these problems.PURPOSE: The goal of the study was to investigate relationships among adaptation,transcendence, and successful aging to explore the potential of Flood's (2005) theory toserve as a guide to nursing research, practice, and policy.METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among a stratified, randomsample (N= 112) of non-demented older adults living independently or receiving assistedliving services in an urban low-income continuing care retirement community.Investigator administered surveys were conducted with small groups (n= 5 to 7).Recruitment minimized the number of surveys subsequently excluded due to dementia(6.4%). Data collection, including consent, dementia screening, and administration ofsurveys was completed in a single session, while preserving participants' privacy anddignity. Efforts were made to accommodate sensory or literacy limitations.RESULTS: The study found significant support for Flood's (2005) theory of successfulaging. Adaptation and transcendence explained 45.4% of the variance in successfulaging, controlling for age, income, function, and health. Transcendence accounted fortwo-and-a-half times the effect of adaptation. Ninety-two percent of participants reportedthey were aging successfully, regardless of age, health, function, income, or objectivemeasures of successful aging. The study also supported the use of the newly developedSuccessful Aging Inventory (Flood, 2008) as an outcome measure to capture the newdefinition of successful aging (alpha .82).CONCLUSIONS: Flood's theory of successful aging appears to merit further study ofits potential to address the needs of older adults with disease, disability or socioeconomicdisadvantages. Transcendence may be an important contributor to a holistic, positiveview of aging that has not been previously reported in the successful aging literature.