Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

How to understand and improve older people’s self-management of wellbeing

  • Original Investigation
  • Published:
European Journal of Ageing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper addresses the question of how older people can be supported to actively self-manage their own process of ageing such that overall wellbeing is achieved and maintained for as long as possible. Starting from a resource-based approach, a new theory of self-management of wellbeing (SMW theory) is proposed, and it is shown how it can be used as a basis for the design of self-management interventions for ageing successfully. The main aspects of the theory, i.e. six key self-management abilities and the core dimensions of wellbeing, are presented as well as the theory-based ‘blueprint’ for the design of interventions. Empirical results of two intervention studies are briefly presented and show that the SMW theory may be a useful tool for the design and evaluation of interventions for successful ageing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. This programme is made possible with the help of a generous grant (014-91-046 and 014-91-056) from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development—ZonMw.

References

  • Adelman PK (1994a) Multiple roles and psychological wellbeing in a national sample of older adults. J Gerontol Soc Sci 49:S277–S285

    Google Scholar 

  • Adelman PK (1994b) Multiple roles and physical health among older adults. Res Aging 16:142–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allan G, Adams RG (1989) Aging and the structure of friendship. In: Adams RG, Blieszner R (eds) Older adult friendship: structure and process. Sage Publications, Newbury Park, pp 45–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Aspinwall LG, Taylor SE (1997) A stitch in time: Self-regulation and proactive coping. Psychol Bul 121:417–436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baltes MM (1996) The many faces of dependency in old age. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Baltes MM, Carstensen LL (1996) The process of successful ageing. Ageing Soc 16:397–422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baltes PB (1987) Theoretical propositions of life-span developmental psychology: on the dynamics between growth and decline. Dev Psychol 23:611–626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baltes PB, Baltes MM (1990) Psychological perspectives on successful aging: the model of selective optimization with compensation. In: Baltes PB, Baltes MM (eds) Successful aging: perspectives from the behavioral sciences. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 1–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura A (1997) Self-efficacy: the exercise of control. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister RF, Leary MR (1995) The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychol Bul 117:497–529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bode C, De Ridder DTD, Bensing JM (2005) Preparing for aging: development, feasibility, and preliminary results of an educational program for midlife and older based on proactive coping theory. Pat Educ Couns (in press)

  • Brandtstädter J, Rothermund K (2002) The life-course dynamics of goal pursuit and goal adjustment: a two-process framework. Dev Rev 22:117–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohlmeijer E, Smit F, Cuijpers P (2003) Effects of reminiscence and life review on late-life depression; a meta-analysis. Int J Geriatr Psychiatr 18:1088–1094

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buss DM, Kenrick DT (1998) Evolutionary social psychology. In: Gilbert DT, Fiske ST, Lindzey G (eds) The handbook of social psychology, 4th edn. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 982–1026

    Google Scholar 

  • Carstensen LL (1992) Social and emotional patterns in adulthood: Support for socioemotional selectivity theory. Psychol Aging 7:331–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carstensen LL, Isaacowitz DM, Charles ST (1999) Taking time seriously: a theory of socioemotional selectivity. Am Psychol 54: 165–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark NM, Janz NK, Becker MH, Schork MA, Wheeler J, Liang J, Dodge JA, Keteyian S, Rhoads KL, Santinga JT (1992) Impact of self-management education on the functional health status of older adults with heart disease. Gerontologist 32:438–443

    Google Scholar 

  • Connidis I (1989). The subjective experience of aging: Correlates of divergent views. Can J Aging 8:7–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Deci EL, Ryan RM (1995) Human autonomy: the basis for true self-esteem. In: Kernis M (ed) Efficacy, agency, and self-esteem. Plenum, New York, pp 31–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Frieswijk N, Steverink N, Buunk BP, Slaets JPJ (2005) The effectiveness of a bibliotherapy in increasing the self-management ability of slightly to moderately frail older people. Pat Educ Couns (in press)

  • Glass TA, Mendes de Leon C, Marottoli RA, Berkman LF (1999) Population based study of social and productive activities as predictors of survival among elderly Americans. Br Med J 319:478–483

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenglass ER (2002) Proactive coping and quality of life management. In: Frydenberg E (ed) Beyond coping: meeting goals, visions, and challenges. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 37–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Haken LM, Steverink N, VandenHeuvel WJA, Lindenberg SM (2002) Orientation toward living in an old age home: An instrument to predict use of an old age home. Sc J Caring Sci 16:353–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harlow RE, Cantor N (1996) Still participating after all these years: a study of life task participation in later life. J Pers Soc Psychol 71:1235–1249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heckhausen J, Schulz R (1995) A life-span theory of control. Psychol Rev 102:284–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hobfoll SE (1998) Stress, culture, and community: the psychology and philosophy of stress. Plenum, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobfoll SE (2002) Social and psychological resources and adaptation. Rev Gen Psychol 6:307–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Isaacowitz DM, Seligman MEP (2002) Cognitive style predictors of affect change in older adults. Int J Aging Hum Dev 54:233–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahana E, Lawrence RH, Kahana B, Kercher K, Wisniewski A, Stoller E, Tobin J, Stange K (2002) Long-term impact of preventive proactivity on quality of life of the old–old. Psychosom Med 64:382–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahn RL (2002) On “successful aging and wellbeing: Self-rated compared with Rowe and Kahn”. Gerontologist 42:725–726

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman D (1999) Objective happiness. In: Kahneman D, Diener E, Schwarz N (eds) Well-being: the foundations of hedonic psychology. Russell Sage Foundation, New York, pp 3–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasser VG, Ryan RM (1999) The relation of psychological needs for autonomy and relatedness to vitality, wellbeing, and mortality in a nursing home. J Appl Soc Psychol 29:935–954

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lam DH, Power MJ (1991) A questionnaire designed to assess roles and goals: a preliminary study. Br J Med Psychol 64:359–373

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang FR, Carstensen LL (1994) Close emotional relationships in late life: further support for proactive aging in the social domain. Psychol Aging 9:315–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lang FR, Featherman DL, Nesselroade JR (1997) Social self-efficacy and short-term variability in social relationships: the MacArthur successful aging studies. Psychol Aging 12:657–666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lang FR, Heckhausen J (2001) Perceived control over development and subjective wellbeing: differential benefits across adulthood. J Pers Soc Psychol 81:509–523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy BR, Slade MD, Kunkel SR, Kasl SV (2002) Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging. J Pers Soc Psychol 83:261–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindenberg S (1996) Continuities in the theory of social production functions. In: Lindenberg SM, Ganzeboom HBG (eds) Verklarende sociologie: opstellen voor Reinhard Wippler [Explanatory sociology: essays in honor of Reinhard Wippler]. Thesis Publishers, Amsterdam, pp 169–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindenberg S (2001) Social rationality versus rational egoism. In: Turner JH (eds) Handbook of sociological theory. Academic/Plenum, New York, pp 635–668

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lorig K, Sobel DS, Stewart AL, Brown BW, Bandura A, Ritter P, Gonzalez VM, Laurent DD, Holman HR (1999) Evidence suggesting that a chronic disease self-management program can improve health status while reducing hospitalization. A randomized trial. Med Care 37:5–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maslow AH (1970) Motivation and personality [1954], 2nd edn. Harper & Row, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan DL (1988) Age differences in social network participation. J Gerontol Soc Sci 55:S129–S137

    Google Scholar 

  • Nieboer A, Lindenberg S (2002) Substitution, buffers and subjective wellbeing: a hierarchical approach. In: Gullone E, Cummins RA (eds) The universality of subjective wellbeing indicators. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 175–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Nieboer AP, Lindenberg S, Boomsma A, Van Bruggen AC (2005) Dimensions of wellbeing and their measurement: the SPF-IL Scale. Soc Ind Res 73:313–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nieboer AP, Lindenberg SM, Ormel J (1999) Conjugal bereavement and well-being of elderly men and women: a preliminary study. Omega 38:113–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Ormel J (2002) Social production function (SPF) theory as an heuristic for understanding developmental trajectories and outcomes. In: Pulkkinen L, Caspi A (eds) Paths to successful development: personality in the life course. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 353–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Ormel J, Lindenberg S, Steverink N, Verbrugge LM (1999) Subjective wellbeing and social production functions. Soc Ind Res 46:61–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart M, Sörensen S (2001) How effective are psychotherapeutic and other psychosocial interventions with older adults? A meta-analysis. J Mental Health Aging 7:207–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Prenda KM, Lachman ME (2001) Planning for the future: a life management strategy for increasing control and life satisfaction in adulthood. Psychol Aging 16:206–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reis HT, Collins WA, Berscheid E (2000) The relationship context of human behavior and development. Psychol Bul 126:844–872

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riley MW, Riley JW (1994) Structural lag: past and future. In: Riley MW, Kahn RL, Foner A (eds) Age and structural lag: Society’s failure to provide meaningful opportunities in work, family and leisure. Wiley, New York, pp 15–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosow I (1976) Status and role change through the life span. In: Binstock RH, Shanas E (eds) Handbook of aging and the social sciences. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, pp 457–482

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowe JW, Kahn RL (1987) Human aging: usual and successful. Science 237:143–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowe JW, Kahn RL (1997) Successful aging. Gerontologist 37:433–440

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkisian CA, Hays RD, Mangione CM (2002) Do older adults expect to age successfully? The association between expectations regarding aging and beliefs regarding healthcare seeking among older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 50:1837–1843

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulz R, Heckhausen J (1996) A life-span model of successful aging. Am Psychol 51:702–714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schuurmans H (2004) Promoting well-being in frail elderly people: Theory and intervention. GRoningen Intervention Program (GRIP). Dissertation, University of Groningen. Available at: http://opc.ub.rug.nl

  • Schuurmans H, Steverink N, Frieswijk N, Buunk, BP, Slaets JPJ, Lindenberg S (2005) How to measure self-management abilities in older people by self-report: the development of the SMAS-30. Quality Life Res (in press)

  • Schuurmans H, Steverink N, Lindenberg S, Frieswijk N, Slaets JPJ (2004) Old or frail: What tells us more? J Gerontol A Med Sci 59:M962–M965

    Google Scholar 

  • Seeman TE, Unger JB, McAvay G, Mendes de Leon CF (1999) Self-efficacy beliefs and perceived declines in functional ability: MacArthur studies of successful aging. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 54:P214–P222

    Google Scholar 

  • Skinner EA (1996) A guide to constructs of control. J Pers Soc Psychol 71:549–570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens N (2001) Combating loneliness: a friendship enrichment programme for older women. Ageing Soc 21:183–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steverink N (2001) When and why frail elderly people give up independent living: The Netherlands as an example. Ageing Soc 21:45–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steverink N, Kempen GIJM (1998) Het toekomstperspectief van ouderen: een theoretisch-empirische verkenning [The future time perspective of the elderly: a theoretical-empirical exploration]. Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr 29:196–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Steverink N, Lindenberg S (2006) Which social needs are important for subjective well-being and what happens to them with aging? Psychol Aging (conditionally accepted)

  • Steverink N, Lindenberg S, Ormel J (1998) Towards understanding successful ageing: patterned change in resources and goals. Ageing Soc 18:441–467

    Google Scholar 

  • Steverink N, Westerhof GJ, Bode C, Dittmann-Kohli F (2001) The personal experience of aging, individual resources, and subjective wellbeing. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 56:P364–P373

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor SE, Dickerson SS, Klein LC (2002) Toward a biology of social support. In: Snyder CR, Lopez SJ (eds) Handbook of positive psychology. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 556–569

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor SE, Lerner JS, Sherman DK, Sage RM, McDowell NK (2003) Are self-enhancing cognitions associated with healthy or unhealthy biological profiles? J Pers Soc Psychol 85:605–615

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thoits PA (1983) Multiple identities and psychological wellbeing: a reformulation and test of the social isolation hypothesis. Am Soc Rev 48:174–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Timmer E, Steverink N, Dittmann-Kohli F (2002) Cognitive representations of future gains, maintenance, and losses in the second half of life. Int J Aging Hum Dev 55:321–339

    Google Scholar 

  • Vallerand RJ, O’Connor BP (1989) Motivation in the elderly: A theoretical framework and some promising findings. Can Psychol 30:538–549

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Bruggen A (2001) Individual production of social wellbeing: An exploratory study. Thela Thesis, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Eijk L (1997) Activity and wellbeing in the elderly. Thesis Publishers, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (World Health Organization) (1985) Targets for Health for all; Targets in Support of the European Regional Strategy for Health for All. WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen

  • Zautra AJ, Hoffman JM, Reich JW (1997) The role of two kinds of efficacy beliefs in maintaining the wellbeing of chronically stressed older adults. In: Gottlieb BH (ed) Coping with chronic stress. Plenum, New York, pp 269–290

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Nardi Steverink & Joris P. J. Slaets

  2. Interuniversity Centre for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Nardi Steverink & Siegwart Lindenberg

Authors
  1. Nardi Steverink
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Siegwart Lindenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joris P. J. Slaets
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nardi Steverink.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Steverink, N., Lindenberg, S. & Slaets, J.P.J. How to understand and improve older people’s self-management of wellbeing. Eur J Ageing 2, 235–244 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-005-0012-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-005-0012-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation