Doctoral School of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Geroscience. 2023 Oct;45(5):3045-3058. doi: 10.1007/s11357-023-00856-9. Epub 2023 Jul 7.
Many individuals, both in the public and within the field of psychology, often perceive aging as a burden that negatively impacts intellectual and mental health. Our present study aims to challenge this notion by identifying the crucial components of positive mental health in later life. These components not only promote positive mental health but also actively contribute to it, even under difficult circumstances. To accomplish this, we first offer a concise review of well-being and mental health models that highlight the psychological aspects of flourishing in late life. We then introduce a psychological competence-based model for positive mental health, which aligns with the concept of positive aging. Subsequently, we present a measurement tool suitable for practical applications. Finally, we provide a comprehensive overview of positive aging, drawing on methodological guidelines and existing research findings concerning sustainable positive mental health in later life. We examine the evidence indicating that psychological resilience (the capacity to adapt and recover from adversity or stress) and competence (skills and abilities to effectively cope with challenges across various life domains) significantly contribute to slowing down biological aging processes. Furthermore, we discuss insights into the relationship between psychological factors and aging derived from research on Blue Zones (regions characterized by a higher proportion of individuals experiencing longer, healthier lives).
许多人，无论是公众还是心理学领域内的人士，常常将衰老视为一种负担，认为它会对智力和心理健康产生负面影响。我们目前的研究旨在通过确定晚年积极心理健康的关键组成部分来挑战这一观念。这些组成部分不仅促进积极的心理健康，而且即使在困难的情况下也能积极促进心理健康。为此，我们首先简要回顾了幸福感和心理健康模型，这些模型强调了晚年繁荣的心理方面。然后，我们引入了一个基于心理能力的积极心理健康模型，该模型与积极老龄化的概念相一致。随后，我们提出了一种适合实际应用的测量工具。最后，我们全面概述了积极老龄化，借鉴了关于晚年可持续积极心理健康的方法学指南和现有研究结果。我们研究了表明心理弹性（适应和从逆境或压力中恢复的能力）和能力（在各个生活领域有效应对挑战的技能和能力）对减缓生物衰老过程有显著贡献的证据。此外，我们还讨论了从蓝区（以经历更长、更健康寿命的个体比例较高为特征的区域）研究中得出的关于心理因素与衰老之间关系的见解。
