Citation

Miche M, Wahl HW, Diehl M, Oswald F, Kaspar R, Kolb M. J. Gerontol. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci. 2014; 69(2): 174-187.

Affiliation

Correspondence should be addressed to Martina Miche, Department of Psychological Aging Research, Heidelberg University, Bergheimer Straße 20, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany. E-mail: martina.miche@psychologie.uni-heidelberg.de.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Gerontological Society of America, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/geronb/gbs164

PMID

23325506

Abstract

Objectives.The subjective experience of aging is a relevant correlate of developmental outcomes. However, traditional approaches fall short of capturing the inherent multidimensionality of subjective aging experiences (SAEs). Based on the concept of Awareness of Age-Related Change (AARC; Diehl, M. K., & Wahl, H.-W. (2010). Awareness of age-related change: Examination of a (mostly) unexplored concept. Journals of Gerontology: Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 65, 340-350. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbp110), this study provides a description of SAEs that is facet rich, and based on their natural occurrence, analyzes interindividual differences and associations with well-being.Method.Data came from 225 participants (70-88 years) of the ongoing BEWOHNT study. Open-ended diary entries about age-related experiences were collected for more than 14 days and coded according to AARC domains and subdomains. RESULTS: Seventy percent of all participants had SAEs about physical functioning. About half of the sample reported experiences in the domains interpersonal relations, social-emotional and social-cognitive functioning (COGN-EMOT), and lifestyle. Thirty percent experienced aging in terms of changes in cognitive functioning. Contents of SAEs varied by gender, age group, and functional status. SAEs about COGN-EMOT were most consistently related to affective components of subjective well-being.Discussion.Our results demonstrate the benefits of an open-ended approach to a multidimensional understanding of SAEs. Content-related, social-cognitive and social-emotional changes more than functional age-related changes were most important for well-being.

Language: en