This research aims to explore a causal model of subjective well-being predictors in a cross-cultural older population.

Measures were completed using a variety of culturally appropriate methods, including mail-outs, self-administration and interviews. For the purposes of this study, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SwLS), the Adjustment to Aging Scale (ATAS) one measure of cognitive functioning - the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and demographics, were included. All variables had fewer than 1% missing values and complete data were available for 709 older adults (M = 82.4, SD = 6.45, (range 74–102)) from eight different nationalities. Structural equation modeling was used. Controlling for age, gender and country of origin, we assessed the level of subjective well-being of elderly people, and its predictors.

Subjective well-being is predicted, not only by age progression, but also by adjustment to aging, among other variables. Age was significantly associated with cognitive impairment (β = .387; p = .003) and perception of health (β =− .172; p = .004). All estimates were statistically significant (p<.01).

Subjective well-being appears to be a catalyst to attitudinal markers of maturity and internal development, across cultures. This study highlights the predictors of subjective well-being in older age, warranting further study across cultures among frailer populations over time. Recommendations for future research on older adults’ well-being measures and clinical practice are also presented.

Diverse factors may predict the adjustment to aging (AtA) of the younger-old and oldest-old adults’

To build a structural model for exploring whether socio-demographic, health and lifestyle-related variables are predictors of AtA for both groups.

Research encompassed a community-dwelling sample, of 447 older adults aged 75 years and above (M = 86.27; SD = 6.78; range 75-100). Measures included demographics (sex, marital status, education, household, adult children, family‘s annual income, and self-reported spirituality), lifestyle and health-related characteristics (perceived health, recent disease, physical activity and leisure), and the Adjustment to Aging Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate a structural model of the self-reported AtA, encompassing all the above variables.

Significant predictors for the younger-old are perceived health (β= .425; p< .001), leisure (β = .324; p< .001), professional status (β = .243; p< .001). Significant predictors for the oldest-old are self-reported spirituality (β = .816; p< .001), perceived health (β = .232; p< .001), and income (β = .233; p= .035). The variables explained respectively 64.5% and 61.6% of the variability of AtA, respectively.

Perceived health is the strongest predictor of AtA for the younger-old participants whilst self-reported spirituality is the strongest predictor of AtA for the oldest-old adults.

Older adults experience varying challenges that occur from late adulthood to extreme old age.

This study aims at exploring the indicators of adjustment to aging (AtA) reported by old and oldest old adults and at examining the potential explanatory mechanisms of a model for AtA for these two age groups.

This qualitative study comprised demographics and semi-structured interviews. Complete information on 152 older adults aged between 76-102 years (M=83.76; SD = 6.458) Data was subjected to content analysis. The correlational structure and latent constructs of indicators of AtA were analyzed by a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA).

‘Occupation and achievement’ was the most mentioned indicator of AtA by the old participants (17.7%), whilst, ‘existential meaning and spirituality’ was the most verbalized indicator of AtA for the oldest old participants (16.9%). AtA was explained by a three-factor model for each age group. For the old participants, the largest factor ‘occupational and social focus’ accounted for 33.6% of total variance, whereas for the oldest old participants, ‘spirituality and health focus’ represented 33.5% of total variance.

The outcomes presented in this paper stressed the varied perspectives concerning AtA, contoured in two different models, for the old and the oldest old, and the need of considering these when designing and implementing programs in health care for these two age groups.

The aim of this study was to build a structural model to explore the predictors of adjustment to aging (AtA) in a community-dwelling older population.

A community-dwelling sample of 1270 older adults aged between 75 and 102 years answered a questionnaire to determine socio-demographic (sex, age, professional and marital status, education, household, adult children, family‘s annual income, living setting and self-reported spirituality), lifestyle and health-related characteristics (perceived health, recent disease, medication and leisure). Several instruments were used to assert psychological variables, namely AtA, sense of coherence and subjective well-being. Structural equation modeling was used to explore a structural model of the self-reported AtA, encompassing all variables.

Significant predictors are self-reported spirituality (β = .816; p < .001), perceived health (β = .455; p < .001), leisure (β = .322; p < .001), professional status (β = .283; p < .001), income (β = .230; p = .035), household (β = −.208; p = .007), sense of coherence (β = −.202; p = .004) and adult children (β = .164; p = .011). The variables explain respectively 60.6% of the variability of AtA.

Self-reported spirituality is the strongest predictor of AtA. This study emphasizes the need for deepening the variables that influence older adults’ AtA, in particular perceived health and further lifestyle-related characteristics, as being relevant for promoting aging well in later life, within a salutogenic context for health care.

To analyze the manifestations of adjustment to aging (AtA) and subjective age (SA) identified by older adults and to investigate the latent constructs that can work as major manifestations in AtA and SA in an older Portuguese and Romanian population.

Measures were completed, using a variety of culturally appropriate methods, including demographics and interviews. Complete data were available for 64 older adults aged between 72–99 years (M=80.1; SD = 5.8). Data was subjected to content analysis. Representation of the associations and latent constructs were analyzed by a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA).

The most prevalent response of the interviewed participants for AtA was’Accomplishment, personal fulfillment, and future projects’ (24.1%).’With apprehension’ (33.3%) was identified as the most frequent SA response. Findings showed a model for each nationality. AtA and SA for Portuguese elderly were explained by a three-factor model:’conciliated’,’young-at-heart’ and’involved’. A three-dimension model formed by’satisfied’,’attentive’ and’concerned’ was indicated as a best-fit solution for Romanian elderly.

AtA and SA are strongly explained by increased likelihood of specific constructs in its definition. AtA was differently related to SA in older adults in both samples.

This research aims to explore a structural model of sense of coherence’ predictors in a cross-cultural older population.

Measures were completed using a variety of culturally appropriate methods, including mail-outs, self-administration and interviews. For the purposes of this study, the Sense of Coherence Scale, the Adjustment to Aging Scale, one measure of cognitive functioning - the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and demographics, were included. All variables prompted fewer than 1% missing values and complete data were available for 709 older adults (M = 82.4, SD = 6.45, (range 74–102)) from eight different nationalities. Structural equation modeling was used. Controlling for age, gender and country of origin, we assessed the level of sense of coherence of elderly people, and its predictors.

Sense of coherence is predicted, not only by self-reported spirituality, but also by adjustment to aging, among other variables. Sense of coherence was significantly associated with age progression (β = .426; p = .001) and perception of health (β =− .381; p = .001). All estimates were statistically significant (p<.01).

Specifically in late adulthood, changes may affect older adults’ worldview and thus their SOC. The older individual with a strong SOC has a greater ability to mobilize and exploit potential resources. In brief, this study stresses the predictors of sense of coherence in older age. Recommendations for future research on older adults’ sense of coherence and clinical practice are also presented.

Literature lacks of studies assessing correlates of adjustment to aging (AtA) among older populations.

The aim of this study was to build a structural model to explore the predictors of adjustment to aging (AtA) in a community-dwelling older population.

A community-dwelling sample of 1270 older adults aged between 75 and 102 years answered a questionnaire to determine socio-demographic (sex, age, professional and marital status, education, household, adult children, family's annual income, living setting and self-reported spirituality), lifestyle and health-related characteristics (perceived health, recent disease, medication and leisure). Several instruments were used to assert psychological variables, namely AtA, sense of coherence and subjective well-being. Structural equation modeling was used to explore a structural model of the self-reported AtA, encompassing all variables.

Significant predictors are self-reported spirituality (β = .816; P < .001), perceived health (β = .455; P < .001), leisure (β = .322; P < .001), professional status (β = .283; P < .001), income (β = .230; P = .035), household (β = -.208; P = .007), sense of coherence (β = -.202; P = .004) and adult children (β = .164; P = .011). The variables explain 60.6% of the variability of AtA.

Self-reported spirituality is the strongest predictor of AtA. This study emphasizes the need for deepening the variables that influence older adults’ AtA, in particular perceived health and further lifestyle-related characteristics, as being relevant for promoting aging well in later life, within a salutogenic context for health care.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Intervention programs that highlight predictors of adjustment to aging (AtA) for minority older lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) populations are scarce.

The aim of this preliminary study is to build a structural model to explore whether socio-demographic, health and lifestyle-related variables, are correlates of AtA in a group of LGB older adults.

The sample comprised 287 LGB older adults aged 75 years old and older. Convenience sampling was used to gather questionnaire data. Measures encompassed the adjustment to aging scale, the satisfaction with life scale, demographics and lifestyle and health-related characteristics. Structural equation modeling was used to explore a structural model of the self-reported AtA, comprising all the above variables.

The structural model indicated the following significant correlates: perceived health (β = 0.456; P < 0.001), leisure (β = 0.378; P < 0.001), income (β = 0.302; P < 0.001), education (β = 0.299; P = 0.009), spirituality (β = 0.189; p <0 .001), sex (β = 0.156; P < 0.001), physical activity (β = 0.142; P < 0.001), satisfaction with life (β = 0.126; P < 0.001), and marital status (β = 0.114; P = 0.008). The variables explain respectively 76.4% of the variability of AtA.

These outcomes suggest that policy making and community interventions with LGB older adults may benefit of including variables, such as, perceived health, leisure and income, as these were pointed out as significant for this group of older adults for promoting adjustment to aging in late adulthood.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.