Braam Arjan W, Bramsen Inge, van Tilburg Theo G, van der Ploeg Henk M, Deeg Dorly J H
Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2006 May;61(3):S121-8. doi: 10.1093/geronb/61.3.s121.
Gerotranscendence has been conceptualized as a potential development accompanying normal aging. Gerotranscendence is defined as a shift in metaperspective from a materialistic and pragmatic world view to a more cosmic and transcendent one. In the past decade, population-based studies have tested Tornstam's Gerotranscendence Scale. Its Cosmic Transcendence subscale, in particular, emerged as consistent. The aim of the present study was to examine (a) how cosmic transcendence relates to having a framework of meaning in life and (b) whether religiousness and demographic characteristics influence possible relationships.
Participants were 928 older Dutch adults who responded to a questionnaire that included the Cosmic Transcendence scale, aspects of religiousness, and the Framework of Meaning in Life subscale of the Life Regard Index.
A substantial, positive association between cosmic transcendence and framework of meaning in life was observed. This association was much more pronounced among participants who were less involved in religion, who were women, who were age 75 or older, or who were widowed.
The current study indicates that the personal relevance of cosmic transcendence depends on cultural factors such as secularization. Furthermore, cosmic transcendence seems to unfold as an important domain in the life view of women, the older old, and the widowed.
超越老龄已被概念化为伴随正常衰老过程的一种潜在发展。超越老龄被定义为一种元视角的转变，即从物质主义和务实的世界观转向更具宇宙性和超越性的世界观。在过去十年中，基于人群的研究对托恩斯塔姆的超越老龄量表进行了测试。特别是其宇宙超越子量表表现出了一致性。本研究的目的是探讨：（a）宇宙超越与拥有生活意义框架之间的关系；（b）宗教信仰和人口统计学特征是否会影响可能存在的关系。
研究参与者为928名荷兰老年成年人，他们对一份问卷进行了回应，问卷内容包括宇宙超越量表、宗教信仰方面以及生命尊重指数中的生活意义框架子量表。
观察到宇宙超越与生活意义框架之间存在显著的正相关。这种关联在宗教参与度较低、女性、75岁及以上或丧偶的参与者中更为明显。
当前研究表明，宇宙超越的个人相关性取决于世俗化等文化因素。此外，宇宙超越似乎在女性、高龄老人和丧偶者的生活观中展现为一个重要领域。
