Social Support, Health and Optimism Are Varied in Their Prediction of Positive Aging Resilience Among Males and Females

It is expected that the number of individuals aged 65 or older, in the US, will be doubling to 70 million by the year 2030.  Women and men experience aging differently. It is important to identify factors that promote resilience within gender groups. Perception of positive aging (PA) in the presence of chronic stress is a form of resilience. OBJECTIVES: This study identifies factors that differentiate resilient individuals from their non-resilient counterparts within the context of positive aging and gender.

METHODS:  Secondary statistical analysis was conducted on Psychosocial Leave-Behind Participant Lifestyle questionnaire data completed by 3262 individuals who participated in the 2004 U.S. Health Retirement Study.

 RESULTS:   Logistic regression analysis identified decreased loneliness for males and quality of life including good health for females as predictive of positive aging when compared to their non-resilient counterparts.  Moderate to less optimism was also a significant predictive factor particularly for females. 

DISCUSSION:  Findings from this proposed study may have important implications in promoting resilience building mental health programs to individuals in the U.S. as they face physical and emotional challenges in their advancing years.  Specifically it broadened the understanding of how males and females achieve positive aging through the use of different external and internal resources within the presence of chronic stress.  Also it questions whether optimism should be regarded on a spectrum rather than an all or none concept (often used in positive psychology) given that individuals with moderate to less optimism with proper protective factors can still experience resilience in aging.