2986 School of Social and Behavioral Science, Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, USA.
Department of Sociology & Gerontology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA.
Int J Aging Hum Dev. 2021 Jul;93(1):636-652. doi: 10.1177/0091415020981881. Epub 2020 Dec 18.
The preventive and corrective proactivity model explores how internal and external resources mediate age-related stressors to counter negative outcomes of aging. Older adults' proactivity about their future is consistently associated with higher quality of life, but research has not explored younger adults' perceptions of their aging. We used interpretive phenomenology analysis to analyze 24 students' essays from the beginning and end of an introductory gerontology course to understand anticipated adaptation to their 75-year-old self. The superordinate theme proactive steps to avoid negative aspects of aging comprised five subordinate themes (being productive, exercising and eating right, being financially stable, being socially connected, and the roles of older adults). Students presented unrealistically positive selves at 75 and discussed how to maintain and adapt to redefine their aging experience. Findings have implications for research on adaption, proactivity, and the future-self, and suggest that pedagogy incorporates realistic expectations of aging.
预防性和纠正性前摄模型探讨了内部和外部资源如何调节与年龄相关的压力源，以对抗衰老的负面后果。老年人对未来的前摄性与更高的生活质量密切相关，但研究尚未探讨年轻人对自己衰老的看法。我们使用解释现象学分析方法，分析了一门入门老年学课程开始和结束时的 24 名学生的文章，以了解他们对自己 75 岁自我的预期适应情况。上级主题“避免衰老负面方面的积极步骤”包括五个下属主题（富有成效、锻炼和正确饮食、经济稳定、社交联系以及老年人的角色）。学生们在 75 岁时表现出不切实际的积极自我，并讨论了如何保持和适应重新定义他们的衰老体验。研究结果对适应、前摄性和未来自我的研究具有意义，并表明教学应纳入对衰老的现实期望。
