PYC2603 - CHAPTER 06 SUMMARIZED
Chapter 06: Successful Ageing and Mental Health
6.1 Introduction
In 2006, the Older Persons Act, No. 13 of 2006 was promulgated (put into effect) by the South
African Government. The objects of the Act are to:
- Maintain and promote the status, well-being, safety and security of older persons;
- Maintain and protects the rights of older persons;
- Regulate the registration, establishment and management of services and the establishment
and management of residential facilities of older persons and;
- Combat the abuse of older persons.
6.2 Successful ageing
The following definition of successful ageing, consisting of three components, is nonetheless
accepted by many:
- Freedom from disease and disease-related disability.
- High mental and physical functioning.
- Active engagement in social and productive activities.
Optimism and effective coping styles were found to be better indicators of successful ageing than
the traditionally used measures of health and wellness. These findings suggest that physical health is
not the most important indicator. Rather, a factor that is well within an individual’s control may be
more important: a positive outlook on life.
On the other hand, it cannot be denied that there are factors that do play a significant role in
successful ageing. The following are some of the most important of these variables.
6.2.1 Ageism
This is a form of prejudice and refers to discrimination based on chronological age. It usually
indicates prejudice against people in middle but especially late adulthood. Ageism may have a major
influence on the adjustment and well-being of older people. Ageism is the only one where the
members of the discriminating group (the younger) will eventually join the group they are
discriminating (older).
Ageism, like most other forms of prejudice, is largely based on stereotypes and generalisations, for
example:
- Old people are all alike.
- Old people have little to offer to society.
- Old people behave like children.
- Old people suffer from at least one serious illness.
- Most old people are senile.
- Old people feel alone and lonely and are just waiting to die.
, Forms of ageism are often subtle and implicit rather than explicit; for example, not given dates and
messages; being referred to in the third person while present; or decisions that are made will affect
the older person without prior consultation.
The important influence of ageism is illustrated by a longitudinal study, which indicated that older
adults who had positive experiences concerning stereotypes showed better memory functioning, a
more positive and balanced view of life and more positive self-concepts than those who has negative
experiences.
According to cross-cultural research, a diverse spectrum of attitudes towards ageing exist, indicating
that ageism is not a universal trend. Older people seem to enjoy high prestige in cultures that are
autocratic, static (unchanging) and collectivistic (shared ownership and independency).
6.2.2 Personality characteristics
It is increasingly realised that the role played by personality characteristics in individuals’
experiences of old age is of vital importance. In SA, Duckitt, also found that an individual’s
personality structure provides a relatively better explanation of individual adjustment to old age
than social resources, social interaction or profound changes in lifestyle.
The existing research data indicate the following personality traits in particular seem to play an
important role in successful ageing:
- Strong sense of meaning: a positive interpretation of one’s existence and the world; the
sense of having a worthwhile purpose and value in life.
- Emotional stability (low neuroticism): consistency and predictability in emotional reactions,
the ability to withstand minor setbacks, failures, difficulties and other stresses without
emotional outbursts.
- Flexibility: adjusting to change; the ability to be adaptable or variable and a willingness to
compromise. Such a person is usually not rigid in his or her ideas.
- Goal-directedness: directed to attain a specific goal or goals and finding other routes or
ways to achieve goals when hindered.
- Extraversion: outgoing, unreserved, expressive and a seemingly confident approach to life.
Such a person is focused on the social environment, enjoys human interactions, is
enthusiastic, talkative and tends to seek out excitement.
- Low hostility level: not being aggressive or antagonistic, but friendly, kind and sympathetic.
- Resilience: the capacity of an individual to successfully adjust to and even thrive on difficult
and traumatic life experiences. This is achieved through mental, emotional and behavioural
flexibility and adaption to external and internal challenges.
It seems that relatively stable personality traits and a capacity to face demanding life events
successfully underlie both the continuance of life satisfaction over the entire life span and individual
differences in successful ageing.
6.2.3 Locus of control
Individual’s perception of their ability to influence the course and outcome of their life experiences
is a very important determinant of successful ageing. In this regard, Rotter coined the term locus of
control to access how much control people have over the conditions in their lives. He distinguishes
between (1) internal locus of control and an (2) external locus of control.
Chapter 06: Successful Ageing and Mental Health
6.1 Introduction
In 2006, the Older Persons Act, No. 13 of 2006 was promulgated (put into effect) by the South
African Government. The objects of the Act are to:
- Maintain and promote the status, well-being, safety and security of older persons;
- Maintain and protects the rights of older persons;
- Regulate the registration, establishment and management of services and the establishment
and management of residential facilities of older persons and;
- Combat the abuse of older persons.
6.2 Successful ageing
The following definition of successful ageing, consisting of three components, is nonetheless
accepted by many:
- Freedom from disease and disease-related disability.
- High mental and physical functioning.
- Active engagement in social and productive activities.
Optimism and effective coping styles were found to be better indicators of successful ageing than
the traditionally used measures of health and wellness. These findings suggest that physical health is
not the most important indicator. Rather, a factor that is well within an individual’s control may be
more important: a positive outlook on life.
On the other hand, it cannot be denied that there are factors that do play a significant role in
successful ageing. The following are some of the most important of these variables.
6.2.1 Ageism
This is a form of prejudice and refers to discrimination based on chronological age. It usually
indicates prejudice against people in middle but especially late adulthood. Ageism may have a major
influence on the adjustment and well-being of older people. Ageism is the only one where the
members of the discriminating group (the younger) will eventually join the group they are
discriminating (older).
Ageism, like most other forms of prejudice, is largely based on stereotypes and generalisations, for
example:
- Old people are all alike.
- Old people have little to offer to society.
- Old people behave like children.
- Old people suffer from at least one serious illness.
- Most old people are senile.
- Old people feel alone and lonely and are just waiting to die.
, Forms of ageism are often subtle and implicit rather than explicit; for example, not given dates and
messages; being referred to in the third person while present; or decisions that are made will affect
the older person without prior consultation.
The important influence of ageism is illustrated by a longitudinal study, which indicated that older
adults who had positive experiences concerning stereotypes showed better memory functioning, a
more positive and balanced view of life and more positive self-concepts than those who has negative
experiences.
According to cross-cultural research, a diverse spectrum of attitudes towards ageing exist, indicating
that ageism is not a universal trend. Older people seem to enjoy high prestige in cultures that are
autocratic, static (unchanging) and collectivistic (shared ownership and independency).
6.2.2 Personality characteristics
It is increasingly realised that the role played by personality characteristics in individuals’
experiences of old age is of vital importance. In SA, Duckitt, also found that an individual’s
personality structure provides a relatively better explanation of individual adjustment to old age
than social resources, social interaction or profound changes in lifestyle.
The existing research data indicate the following personality traits in particular seem to play an
important role in successful ageing:
- Strong sense of meaning: a positive interpretation of one’s existence and the world; the
sense of having a worthwhile purpose and value in life.
- Emotional stability (low neuroticism): consistency and predictability in emotional reactions,
the ability to withstand minor setbacks, failures, difficulties and other stresses without
emotional outbursts.
- Flexibility: adjusting to change; the ability to be adaptable or variable and a willingness to
compromise. Such a person is usually not rigid in his or her ideas.
- Goal-directedness: directed to attain a specific goal or goals and finding other routes or
ways to achieve goals when hindered.
- Extraversion: outgoing, unreserved, expressive and a seemingly confident approach to life.
Such a person is focused on the social environment, enjoys human interactions, is
enthusiastic, talkative and tends to seek out excitement.
- Low hostility level: not being aggressive or antagonistic, but friendly, kind and sympathetic.
- Resilience: the capacity of an individual to successfully adjust to and even thrive on difficult
and traumatic life experiences. This is achieved through mental, emotional and behavioural
flexibility and adaption to external and internal challenges.
It seems that relatively stable personality traits and a capacity to face demanding life events
successfully underlie both the continuance of life satisfaction over the entire life span and individual
differences in successful ageing.
6.2.3 Locus of control
Individual’s perception of their ability to influence the course and outcome of their life experiences
is a very important determinant of successful ageing. In this regard, Rotter coined the term locus of
control to access how much control people have over the conditions in their lives. He distinguishes
between (1) internal locus of control and an (2) external locus of control.
