Maja Wiest

Subjective Well-Being and Mortality revisited: Differential Effects of Cognitive and Emotional Facets of Well-Being on Mortality

OBJECTIVE Subjective well-being (SWB) is an important predictor of mortality. To date, surprisingly little is known about whether cognitive and emotional facets of SWB independently predict mortality, and whether such effects vary by age. METHOD This study examined differential effects of life satisfaction (LS), positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA) on mortality in a conjoint analysis using data of German adults between the ages of 40 to 85 years (N = 3,124). Effects of SWB facets were analyzed using Cox Proportional Hazards Models. RESULTS LS and PA predicted mortality over and above sociodemographic factors and physical health (HRLS = .89, 95% CI = .79-1.00, p < .05, HRPA = .81, 95% CI = .70-.93, p < .05). However, this effect diminished when including self-rated health and physical activity. NA was not associated with mortality. Age group comparative analyses revealed that PA predicted mortality in older adults (65+) even after controlling for self-rated health and physical activity (HRPA = .82, 95% CI = .70-.97, p < .05). In middle-aged participants, no SWB indicator predicted mortality when controlling for covariates. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest a differential impact of cognitive and emotional well-being on mortality and suggest that in middle-aged adults the effects of SWB on mortality are attenuated by self-rated health and physical activity. The study underscores the importance of SWB for health and longevity, particularly for older adults.

Life satisfaction and feeling in control: Indicators of successful aging predict mortality in old age

Life satisfaction and control beliefs are established indicators of successful aging and predict mortality. However, it has not yet been examined whether they independently predict mortality or interact. We examined main and interaction effects using Cox proportional hazards models in a sample of older adults (N = 1402; age range: 65–91). Only the interaction of life satisfaction and control beliefs significantly predicted mortality when controlling for socio-demographic variables and health. These findings suggest that detrimental effects of low control beliefs can be buffered by life satisfaction, and unexpectedly, that high levels of both factors are not most protective against mortality.

Changes in life satisfaction when losing one's spouse: individual differences in anticipation, reaction, adaptation and longevity in the German Socio-economic Panel Study (SOEP)

ABSTRACT Losing a spouse is among the most devastating events that may occur in peoples lives. We use longitudinal data from 1,224 participants in the German Socio-economic Panel Study (SOEP) to examine (a) how life satisfaction changes with the experience of spousal loss; (b) whether socio-demographic factors and social and health resources moderate spousal loss-related changes in life satisfaction; and (c) whether extent of anticipation, reaction and adaptation to spousal loss are associated with mortality. Results reveal that life satisfaction shows anticipatory declines about two and a half years prior to (anticipation), steep declines in the months surrounding (reaction) and lower levels after spousal loss (adaptation). Older age was associated with steeper anticipatory declines, but less steep reactive declines. Additionally, younger age, better health, social participation and poorer partner health were associated with better adaptation. Higher pre-loss life satisfaction, less steep reactive declines and better adaptation were associated with longevity. The discussion focuses on the utility of examining the interrelatedness among anticipation, reaction and adaptation to further our understanding of change in life satisfaction in the context of major life events.

Hochaltrigkeit in der Gesellschaft des langen Lebens

ZusammenfassungDieser Beitrag thematisiert Hochaltrigkeit als theoretische Herausforderung, empirisches Problem und sozialpolitische Aufgabe und führt in das Thema „Hochaltrigkeit in der Gesellschaft des langen Lebens“ ein. Insbesondere wird in alternswissenschaftlicher Perspektive der Bedarf nach (Re-)Integration des jungen und hohen Alters diskutiert. Während das Erreichen des sehr hohen Alters zunehmend zu einem normalen Lebensereignis wird und so ein umfassender Wissensbedarf entstanden ist, haben wir es gleichzeitig mit unzureichenden Wissensbeständen zu tun. Vor allem die Differenzialität und Ungleichheit innerhalb dieser Lebensphase sowie die Pfade, die in sie führen, gilt es zu erforschen. Nicht zuletzt geht es aber auch um eine aktive Gestaltung dieser stetig an Bedeutung gewinnenden Lebensphase.AbstractThis paper focuses on very old age as a challenge for ageing theory, as an empirical problem and as a scope for social policy and it introduces the contributions of the special issue “Very old age in an ageing society”. Especially the need for (re-)integration of the life-phases of young and old age is discussed from the position of social and behavioural ageing research. While reaching very old age is an increasingly normal life-event, and thus there is an increasing need for knowledge, there is currently only limited knowledge about it. It is particularly the diversity and inequality within old and very old age and the pathways into latest life that needs to be targeted. Finally, normative patterns and biographical outlines of this increasingly important phase of life need to be developed.

The Effect of Disability Onset Across the Adult Life Span

Objective To examine whether disability has an age-differential effect on life satisfaction across the adult life span and factors that promote maintenance of life satisfaction. Method We applied multilevel models to 4,372 (Mage = 60, SD = 14; 47% women) individuals from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study who experienced disability over the course of the study. Results Disability resulted in substantial and sustained declines in life satisfaction. More important, people who became disabled in young adulthood (aged 18-39 years) and old age (aged 65 and older) reported stronger declines in life satisfaction in the year within disability and were less likely to adapt in the years thereafter. Conversely, those who experienced disability in midlife (aged 40-64 years) were less likely to show declines in the year within disability and were more likely to adapt following disability. Factors associated with maintaining life satisfaction were less severe disability and higher levels of social participation. Discussion Our findings illustrate that disability shapes developmental trajectories of life satisfaction differently depending on its age of onset. Our discussion focuses on possible reasons why disability has differential effects on life satisfaction across the adult life span as well as factors associated with poorer outcomes following disability.

[Very old age in an ageing society. Theoretical challenges, empirical problems and sociopolitical responsibilities].

ZusammenfassungDieser Beitrag thematisiert Hochaltrigkeit als theoretische Herausforderung, empirisches Problem und sozialpolitische Aufgabe und führt in das Thema „Hochaltrigkeit in der Gesellschaft des langen Lebens“ ein. Insbesondere wird in alternswissenschaftlicher Perspektive der Bedarf nach (Re-)Integration des jungen und hohen Alters diskutiert. Während das Erreichen des sehr hohen Alters zunehmend zu einem normalen Lebensereignis wird und so ein umfassender Wissensbedarf entstanden ist, haben wir es gleichzeitig mit unzureichenden Wissensbeständen zu tun. Vor allem die Differenzialität und Ungleichheit innerhalb dieser Lebensphase sowie die Pfade, die in sie führen, gilt es zu erforschen. Nicht zuletzt geht es aber auch um eine aktive Gestaltung dieser stetig an Bedeutung gewinnenden Lebensphase.AbstractThis paper focuses on very old age as a challenge for ageing theory, as an empirical problem and as a scope for social policy and it introduces the contributions of the special issue “Very old age in an ageing society”. Especially the need for (re-)integration of the life-phases of young and old age is discussed from the position of social and behavioural ageing research. While reaching very old age is an increasingly normal life-event, and thus there is an increasing need for knowledge, there is currently only limited knowledge about it. It is particularly the diversity and inequality within old and very old age and the pathways into latest life that needs to be targeted. Finally, normative patterns and biographical outlines of this increasingly important phase of life need to be developed.

Hochaltrigkeit in der Gesellschaft des langen Lebens: Theoretische Herausforderung, empirisches Problem und sozialpolitische Aufgabe

ZusammenfassungDieser Beitrag thematisiert Hochaltrigkeit als theoretische Herausforderung, empirisches Problem und sozialpolitische Aufgabe und führt in das Thema „Hochaltrigkeit in der Gesellschaft des langen Lebens“ ein. Insbesondere wird in alternswissenschaftlicher Perspektive der Bedarf nach (Re-)Integration des jungen und hohen Alters diskutiert. Während das Erreichen des sehr hohen Alters zunehmend zu einem normalen Lebensereignis wird und so ein umfassender Wissensbedarf entstanden ist, haben wir es gleichzeitig mit unzureichenden Wissensbeständen zu tun. Vor allem die Differenzialität und Ungleichheit innerhalb dieser Lebensphase sowie die Pfade, die in sie führen, gilt es zu erforschen. Nicht zuletzt geht es aber auch um eine aktive Gestaltung dieser stetig an Bedeutung gewinnenden Lebensphase.AbstractThis paper focuses on very old age as a challenge for ageing theory, as an empirical problem and as a scope for social policy and it introduces the contributions of the special issue “Very old age in an ageing society”. Especially the need for (re-)integration of the life-phases of young and old age is discussed from the position of social and behavioural ageing research. While reaching very old age is an increasingly normal life-event, and thus there is an increasing need for knowledge, there is currently only limited knowledge about it. It is particularly the diversity and inequality within old and very old age and the pathways into latest life that needs to be targeted. Finally, normative patterns and biographical outlines of this increasingly important phase of life need to be developed.

Regional Impact of Population Aging on Changes in Individual Self-perceptions of Aging: Findings From the German Ageing Survey

Background and Objectives The importance of self-perceptions of aging (SPA) for health and longevity is well documented. Comparably little is known about factors that contribute to SPA. Besides individual factors, the context a person lives in may shape SPA. Research has so far focused on country-level differences in age stereotypes, indicating that rapid population aging accompanies more negative age stereotypes. The present study expands previous research by investigating the impact of district-specific population aging within one country on different facets of SPA. Research Design and Methods Based on a large representative survey in Germany, the study investigates changes in SPA as ongoing development as well as the SPA of physical loss over a 12-year period in adults aged 40+. The study uses several indicators of population aging (e.g., population development, average age, greying index), to identify four clusters differing in their pace of population aging. Based on three-level latent change models, these clusters were compared in their impact on changes in SPA. Results Compared to districts with an average rate of population aging, the study shows that persons living in regions with a fast population aging rate (C1) hold more negative SPA in both facets (ps = .01). Districts with slow population aging (C2) have significantly higher SPA ongoing development (p = .03). Discussion and Implications The study underlines the importance for regional differences in population aging on the development of SPA. In particular, societies should be aware that fast population aging may result in more negative SPA.

Hochaltrigkeit in der Gesellschaft des langen Lebens@@@Very old age in an ageing society: Theoretische Herausforderung, empirisches Problem und sozialpolitische Aufgabe@@@Theoretical challenges, empirical problems and sociopolitical responsibilities

ZusammenfassungDieser Beitrag thematisiert Hochaltrigkeit als theoretische Herausforderung, empirisches Problem und sozialpolitische Aufgabe und führt in das Thema „Hochaltrigkeit in der Gesellschaft des langen Lebens“ ein. Insbesondere wird in alternswissenschaftlicher Perspektive der Bedarf nach (Re-)Integration des jungen und hohen Alters diskutiert. Während das Erreichen des sehr hohen Alters zunehmend zu einem normalen Lebensereignis wird und so ein umfassender Wissensbedarf entstanden ist, haben wir es gleichzeitig mit unzureichenden Wissensbeständen zu tun. Vor allem die Differenzialität und Ungleichheit innerhalb dieser Lebensphase sowie die Pfade, die in sie führen, gilt es zu erforschen. Nicht zuletzt geht es aber auch um eine aktive Gestaltung dieser stetig an Bedeutung gewinnenden Lebensphase.AbstractThis paper focuses on very old age as a challenge for ageing theory, as an empirical problem and as a scope for social policy and it introduces the contributions of the special issue “Very old age in an ageing society”. Especially the need for (re-)integration of the life-phases of young and old age is discussed from the position of social and behavioural ageing research. While reaching very old age is an increasingly normal life-event, and thus there is an increasing need for knowledge, there is currently only limited knowledge about it. It is particularly the diversity and inequality within old and very old age and the pathways into latest life that needs to be targeted. Finally, normative patterns and biographical outlines of this increasingly important phase of life need to be developed.

Hochaltrigkeit in der Gesellschaft des langen LebensVery old age in an ageing society

ZusammenfassungDieser Beitrag thematisiert Hochaltrigkeit als theoretische Herausforderung, empirisches Problem und sozialpolitische Aufgabe und führt in das Thema „Hochaltrigkeit in der Gesellschaft des langen Lebens“ ein. Insbesondere wird in alternswissenschaftlicher Perspektive der Bedarf nach (Re-)Integration des jungen und hohen Alters diskutiert. Während das Erreichen des sehr hohen Alters zunehmend zu einem normalen Lebensereignis wird und so ein umfassender Wissensbedarf entstanden ist, haben wir es gleichzeitig mit unzureichenden Wissensbeständen zu tun. Vor allem die Differenzialität und Ungleichheit innerhalb dieser Lebensphase sowie die Pfade, die in sie führen, gilt es zu erforschen. Nicht zuletzt geht es aber auch um eine aktive Gestaltung dieser stetig an Bedeutung gewinnenden Lebensphase.AbstractThis paper focuses on very old age as a challenge for ageing theory, as an empirical problem and as a scope for social policy and it introduces the contributions of the special issue “Very old age in an ageing society”. Especially the need for (re-)integration of the life-phases of young and old age is discussed from the position of social and behavioural ageing research. While reaching very old age is an increasingly normal life-event, and thus there is an increasing need for knowledge, there is currently only limited knowledge about it. It is particularly the diversity and inequality within old and very old age and the pathways into latest life that needs to be targeted. Finally, normative patterns and biographical outlines of this increasingly important phase of life need to be developed.