Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
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Berkman, LF, Seeman, TE, Albert, M, et al.: High usual and impaired 3
Depp, CA & Jeste, DV. Definitions and predictors of successful aging: A
functioning in community-dwelling older men and women: findings from comprehensive review of larger quantitative studies. Am J Geriatr
the MacArthur Foundation Research on Successful Aging. J Clin Psychiatry 2006; 6-20.
Epidemiol 1993; 46: 1129-40. 4
Jeste, DV, Savla, GN, Thompson, WK, et al. Association between older
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Vailiant, GE & Mukamal, K: Successful Aging. Am J Psychiatry 2001; age and more successful aging: critical role of resilience and depression.
158: 839-47. Am J Psychiatry; AiA; 1-9.
2,6,7,8
way around crises and utilize effective methods marriage. This social factor has consistently
of coping. Thus, a person with a high level of been identified as a predictor of successful aging.
resiliency is more likely to have a positive Those with a greater social support and more social
outlook on life and see his or her life situation contacts are also more likely to age well. 3
and health in a positive light. Another social factor that has been identified as a
predictor of aging well is higher education. 2,9 Those
In addition to resiliency, other psychological
with higher levels of education, particularly college
factors contribute to aging successfully.
degrees, are more likely to age successfully.
Research has also found that feeling that one Education is often cited as a protective factor against
has a purpose in life is an indicator for healthy psychological decline, but it could also be that
aging for several reasons, including its potential people with higher education are more likely to have
for reducing mortality risk. 5 6 People that have held well-paying jobs, thus allowing them greater
mature (adaptive) defenses from the age of 20- access to resources like healthcare than their peers.
50 (e.g.. humor, suppression, and anticipation)
Midlife is a good time for people to assess the
are also more likely to age well than those that
quality of their relationships. Putting the time and
utilize more immature defenses, like projection
effort into developing a social support network may
and dissociation. 2 not only increase psychological health but long-term
physical health.
Overall, current research has found that those
individuals who are psychologically healthy and Conclusions
resilient are more likely to age successfully than
their peers. While genetic factors play a role in It is important to take a holistic view of what
psychological health, there are therapeutic contributes to aging successfully. Those that are
interventions that have been shown to be most likely to age well have good physical and
effective in managing depression. psychological health as well as a social support
Psychotherapy and medication management network. Successful aging is not only the
can help build resiliency and decrease absence of chronic illness, but the perceived life
depressive symptoms. satisfaction of the elderly person. People with
high levels of resilience, low rates of depression,
Social Factors few years of substance abuse, and a good social
network are most likely to age successfully and,
While physical and psychological factors may be
perhaps most importantly, report high levels of
more indicative of aging well than social factors,
life satisfaction into their golden years.
there are several social variables that are often
cited as helpful in contributing to aging
successfully. The most cited social factor as a
predictor of successful aging is a happy
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Pietrzak, R. & Cook, JM. Psychological resilience in older US Veterans:
results from the national health and resilience in veterans study.
Depression and Anxiety. 2013. 30: 432-43.
5 8
Hill, PL & Turiano, NA. Purpose in life as a predictor of mortality across Meng, X & D’Arcy, C. Successful aging in Canada: prevalence and
adulthood. Psychological Science Online, May 8, 2014, 1-5. predictors from a population-based sample of older adults. Gerontology.
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Pietrzakm RH, Tsai, J, Kirwin, PD, & Southwick, SM. Successful aging 2014; 60(1) 65-72.
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among older veterans in the United States. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 22:6, Yaffe, K Fioco, AJ, Lindquist, K, et al. Predicotrs of maintaining cognitive
June 2014. function in older adults. The Health ABC Study. 2009.