Socio-demographic and Subjective Factors Related to a Psychosocial and Biomedical Model of Successful Ageing

Abstract

Objective: With the number and proportion of older adults increasing worldwide, successful ageing (SA) has become a global goal. This study aimed to examine the association of subjective age, health and socio-demographic factors with the biomedical and psychosocial dimensions of SA. Materials and Methods: A total of 61 adults, aged ≥50 (mean age 67.1±9.4) years, living in nursing homes or in the community, were asked to answer a series of questions. A biomedical model of SA was measured by Rowe and Kahn’s criteria (i.e. being free of disease and disability, having high physical and cognitive functioning and being actively engaged in life). A psychological well-being scale was used as an indicator of successful psychosocial ageing. Results: Our analysis revealed that being married and younger by chronological age, having a high educational level, having a younger subjective age and having better subjective health are correlated with both the biomedical and psychosocial dimensions of SA. Neither gender nor the number of children was correlated with these dimensions. Conclusion: The biomedical and psychosocial dimensions of SA are associated with similar socio-demographic factors along with subjective health and age. These findings suggest that subjective age and health status, which are changeable and relatively under the control of the individuals, are important to promote SA. Future research in this field can measure SA by creating an index that includes components of Rowe and Kahn’s model and psychosocial indicators of SA.