School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

A Self-Reliant Umbrella: Defining Successful Aging Among the Old-Old (80+) in Shanghai

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2020

Abstract

The Chinese old-old (80+) population has steadily increased in recent years; however, limited studies have examined how this group ages. The purpose of this study is to explore how the old-old in urban China define successful aging. Guided by grounded theory, we conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with community-dwelling old-old participants (N = 97). Participants identified self-reliance as the goal of successful aging, which was supported by four proactive behaviors: physical activity, financial security, community connectedness, and willing acceptance of reality. In our model, we conceptualized these four proactive behaviors to constitute the ribs of an umbrella, supporting a canopy to protect the pole of self-reliant successful aging. This study offers new understanding of the dynamic and nuanced ways that the old-old in urban China age successfully and of their valiant efforts to maintain self-reliance.

Comments

© The Author(s) 2019.

https://journals.sagepub.com/share/EHRXXCQZEHEJZEKFFBJN?target=10.1177/0733464819842500

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Gerontology

DOI

10.1177/0733464819842500

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