Successful Aging in Late Midlife: The Role of Personality Among College-Educated Women

Aging is characterized both by developmental maturity, as well as beliefs and ideas about growing older. This study examines relationships between successful aging, as defined by Rowe and Kahn (Science 237(4811):143–149, 1987 ), and two aspects of personality that are particularly salient in late mi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of adult development 2013-06, Vol.20 (2), p.63-75
Main Authors: Versey, H. Shellae, Stewart, Abigail J., Duncan, Lauren E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Personality
Personality and Social Psychology
Psychology
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Summary:Aging is characterized both by developmental maturity, as well as beliefs and ideas about growing older. This study examines relationships between successful aging, as defined by Rowe and Kahn (Science 237(4811):143–149, 1987 ), and two aspects of personality that are particularly salient in late midlife—generativity and concerns about aging—in three samples of college-educated women in their early sixties. Relationships between generativity and successful aging and concerns about aging and successful aging are assessed cross-sectionally and over time using multiple linear modeling. Concerns about aging and generativity are associated within time with successful aging; in addition, increased concerns about aging are associated with decreased successful aging, while increased generativity is associated with increased successful aging over time. Our findings highlight the value of examining changes in adult personality developmental preoccupations as a potential contributor to successful aging.
ISSN:1068-0667
1573-3440
DOI:10.1007/s10804-013-9157-7