http://www.healthandage.com
June 19, 2002

Content:

* COMMENTARY: Well-being Undiminished by Physical Decline
* RESEARCH: 
- Narrowing the Social Circle - Increasing the Depth
- Multiple Routes to Life Satisfaction
- Cognitive Ability Testing for Everyday Life
* BOOK AND FILM ALERT:
- Productive Aging, Concepts and Challenges
- Social Integration in the Second Half of Life
* Web Resources
* READER RESPONSE
* Enrichment Resources
* UPCOMING EVENTS 
* POSTING INFORMATION AND ARCHIVES

Well-Being Undiminished by Physical Decline

  We recently talked with a close friend who retired several years ago to take up the good life in the country. One of our first questions was, of course, how is life for you now. He was exhuberant! He loved his new freedoms, the opportunity to grow flowers and vegetables, the leisure to read, the chance to spend more time with his family, the fascinating world of the internet, and more. The conversation bore on, and he told us of an arthritic condition that made it difficult to use his left arm; he was also confronting a new hip replacement; and his latest PSA readings were threatening. Was there not an irony here: on the one hand he reported that life couldn’t be better, on the other, ÒMy body is falling apart.
    There is an important lesson here, one also corroborated by much research of the past decade: There is no necessary relationship between feelings of well-being and physical health. Or, to put it another way, life can remain full, nourishing, and joyous even when bodily functions decline. This conclusion is implied by much research we have summarized in earlier issues of the Newsletter. Such research indicates that general feelings of well-being do not deteriorate significantly over the latter span of life. Some research demonstrates slight decline; other studies an increment, but in general the changes are not dramatic. In effect, such feelings do not seem vitally affected by what many experience as a deterioration in bodily functioning. Recent research puts the issue into sharper focus. Martin Pinquart (2001) analyzed virtually all existing studies related to feelings of physical well-being or health among people who are over 60.  Subjective health, in technical terms, is usually defined as the way in which people describe their own health on a scale from poor to excellent. Overall the analysis demonstrated only a slight deline in ratings of subjective health over time. In fact, the oldest people in the sample, often frail and sometimes disabled, did not evaluate their health negatively. Clearly there is far more to feeling good about life than one’s bodily condition, and even a poor condition by medical standards does not mean a decline in the sense of physical well-being.
                                Ken and Mary Gergen
References

Pinquart, Martin (2001) Correlates of subjective health in older adults: A
meta-analysis, Psychology and Aging, 16, 414-426

- Narrowing the Social Circle - Increasing the Depth

  The aging process is commonly characterized in terms of a narrowing
circle of significant relationships.  Such social disengagement is also
viewed as unfortunate. Loneliness, depression, and the loss of mental and
physical capacities are often viewed as the result. Indeed, some research
has found that older adults have about half as many friends and associates
as younger people. Death and disability are certainly among the causes for
this decline in the numbers of associates one has. However, the present
research sheds new and important light on the closing of the circle.
Specifically, it is proposed, about half of the severed relationships
occur because older adults deliberately discontinue them.  They choose to
cease relating to people who are less close or less important to them.
Most older people maintain meaningful and emotionally close ties, until
death. However, they do so by focusing on the relationships most central
to them.
  In part this selective narrowing of the circle seems to result from the
perception that "time is giving out." When time is perceived as unlimited,
people will chose to relate to many people, and most specifically to those
who can help them achieve future goals. Research indicates, for example,
that younger people sacrifice family time  to achieve more distant goals.
When time is perceived as limited, however, emotionally meaningful goals
are pursued.  As this research suggests, as a result of this selectivity,
the quality of their social relationships are better, and people find
their lives more satisfying.
    Other interesting findings relating social life to personal
satisfactions included the following:
* Neither the loss of a spouse nor the lack of a living child necessarily
means the loss of significant relationships. Older adults frequently find
equally satisfying relationships with close friends.
* Older people whose children gave them emotional support had improved
satisfaction with their lives.  However, if their children gave them
advice, their satisfaction declined.  Apparently, when children begin to
tell their parents what to do, the reaction is no less negative than when
parents direct the lives of their children.

From: Regulation of Social Relationships in Later Adulthood by Frieder R.
Lang.  Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 2001, 56B,
P321-P326.

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- Multiple Routes to Life Satisfaction
 
  Two major research traditions have been exploring what it means to feel
good about one's life.  One tradition has emphasized emotional
experiences, and most particularly feelings of happiness. The other
tradition has focused on feeling of personal growth and reaching one's
full human potential. In this case, satisfaction comes from engaging
deeply in life's challenges. These researchers considered both these
sources of satisfaction together. The data come from the MacArthur
Foundation sample, which reflects the national population demographics. As
the research indicated, the lowest scorers on both measures tended to be
young, uneducated people; those who say they are leading a meaningful
life, but are not very happy  also tend to be younger people but with
higher levels of education.  People who are fairly happy, but not very
challenged tend to be older adults who have not had much education.  Most
interesting, the happiest people and those leading the most meaningful
lives are the midlife and older adults who also are more well-educated.
These researchers also acknowledge the western cultural bias in these
measures of life satisfaction. Not included, for example, are
satisfactions derived from contributing to others, commitment to duty, or
spiritual engagement.

 From: "Optimizing Well-Being: The Empirical Encounter of Two Traditions
by Corey L. M. Keyes, Dov Shmotkin & Carol D. Ryff. Journal of Personality
and Social Psychology, 2002, 82, 1007-1022.

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- Cognitive Ability Testing for Everyday Life
 
  In recent years gerontologists have become increasingly skeptical of
"context-free" tests of cognitive ability (such as IQ-type tests) to
measure how well older adults cope with the problems of everyday life.  As
a result two alternative measures have been developed. The first is 
oriented toward well-defined problems (with only one correct answer), 
such as how to interpret instructions on a medicine bottle; the second
type of measure includes ill-defined or ambiguous problems, such as how to
determine in the grocery store if a food is "low fat." In this research
study, Jason Allaire & Michael Marsiske examined responses from 130
community-dwelling adults from the Detroit metropolitan area.  The average
age of the 24 men and 106 women was 73 years of age, with a range from
60-90. About 1/3 were African-Americans.  Most rated their physical
capabilities as good to moderately good; had 13 years of schooling and an
average income of $20,000.  Participants took traditional psychometric
measures of inductive reasoning, declarative memory, and verbal knowledge,
as well as tests that measured finding solutions to either well-defined
problems, and ill-defined problems. Overall the research indicated that
the two practical measures of cognitive ability predicted very well to
self-reports of everyday living success. In contrast, the abstract
cognitive measures were less helpful in predicting success in practical
living. One might say that the aging population has been the victim of
mismeasurement. Where everyday living success is concerned, it is
important to measure the relevant capacities.

From: Well- and Ill-Defined Measures of Everyday Cognition: Relationship
to Older Adults' Intellectual Ability and Functional Status by Jason C.
Allaire & Michael Marsiske.  Psychology and Aging, 2002, 17,101-115.
      
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*** BOOK ALERT ***

- Productive Aging, Concepts and Challenges, Edited by Morrow-Howell,
Nancy, Hinterlong, James, and Sherraden, Michael, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins
University Press, 2001

  In a 1998 survey, AARP found that 80 percent of baby boomers in the U.S.
plan to continue working at least part-time after retirement, a marked
change from current patterns. The present volume addresses an array of
significant issues generated by this major shift in lifestyle. In general,
the volume does an excellent job in expanding the concept of productivity
to include domains of life other than paid employment. Contributions to
family, community, and voluntary organizations are all emphasized. The
importance of continued activity to physical well-being is underscored.
However, the authors also voice reservations in the trend to define the
latter years in terms of individual, money-for-time, "stay-busy"
activities. They stress instead the significance of meaning creation,
earned leisure, and the nurturing of inner potentials.

- Social Integration in the Second Half of Life 
  Edited by Karl Pillemer, Phyllis Moen, Elaine Wethington, and Nina
Glasgow. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000.

  Aging as a period of slow, but inevitable, disengagement from social
life has been a prominent view in the gerontological literature for
several decades. With recent changes in demographic trends and health
improvements in the elderly population, important challenges to the
traditional view now emerge. This edited volume contains an excellent
selection of contributions that not only take a more careful look at
social integration in aging, but consider practical means of enhancing the
integration process. As various chapters reveal, a certain degree of
disengagement may be anticipated, especially during late old age. However,
the extent of disengagement depends importantly on one's particular
circumstances - including one’s gender,  neighborhood, income, family,
etc. The volume extols the many virtues of remaining socially connected.
Important chapters on neighboring, peer support, transportation, volunteer
services, and housing all add important information on practical means of
fostering social integration.

  Geri Marr Burdman, a health counseling and gerontology specialist, who
is also president of GeroWise International  in Washington State, sends
information about her work and her videos, including:
        Springtime of Autumn: Creating Meaning Throughout the Lifespan 
        Gerovision: A Path with Heart. 
        Gerowisdom: Paths to Wholeness
Burdman emphasizes through her interdisciplinary and transcultural
perspective the importance of promoting quality and dignity
throughout the life span.  Her personal connection to her teacher, Victor
Frankl, famed existentialist psychologist and survivor of the European
holocaust, influences her teachings. Her video, Gerowisdom, which we had
the privilege of viewing, includes conversations with older people
concerning the creation and sustenance of meaning throughout the latter
years.  To find out more about her work or the videotapes, check out her
website at www.gerowise.com; email her at gerimar@mindspring.com, or call
(425) 4500-3235.

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  There is nothing like a good laugh, or so Dr. Steven Wilson, a
psychologist in Columbus, Ohio, who founded  The World Laughter Tour,
believes.  Originally taught in India as a form of spiritual practice, the
American version of the organization was created to help people improve
their physical and mental health through systematic laughter.  Today there
are over 300 laughter clubs in North America.  There are no stand-up
comedians at the meetings, just people who first simulate laughter, and
then end up with the real thing.  Why do we need clubs to laugh? 
According to Dr. Lee Berk of the College of Medicine at the University of
California, Irvine, children laugh or smile about 400 times a day.  Adults
do so about 15 times a day.  When we grow up, we seem to forget how to
laugh.  Laughter is associated with better physical outcomes.  Laughter
clubs have become popular in nursing homes and senior citizen facilities,
as well as in schools and other organizations.  One social worker 
involved in a laughter club described a patient who had been diagnosed
with a crippling disease over thirty years ago.  This woman had been very
sad because of her restricted mobility and limited lifestyle.  The
laughter club returned to her a sense of humor, helped her cope with her
situation, and reminded her of the things for which she had to be
thankful. Her mood and  her movement improved as a result of her
participation.

Club organizers believe that the physical benefits of laughter include: 
stimulation of the cardio-vascular system; production of endorphins that
counteract the production of stress hormones; optimization of the immune
system; reduction in  anxiety,  and relaxation of the muscles.  The
psychological benefits include feelings of happiness, joy and contentment.

To find a laughter club in your area, or to just get a chuckle out of
reading about them, go to  http://www.wordlaughtertour.com

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  The ASA's Summer Series on Aging, regional continuing education for
professionals who work with older adults, their caregivers and their
families, will take place in San Francisco June 17-20, and in Philadelphia
July 22-25, 2002. Regional and national experts in the field of aging will
conduct focused and practical intensive workshops  in such areas as 
Creative Aging, Health Promotion & Wellness, and Religion & Spirituality.
Among the offerings are:
* The National Center for Creative Aging Summer Institute LIFELONG
LEARNING THROUGH THE ARTS will present a series of full-day intensives
that focus on creativity, improved well-being and the promotion of
lifelong learning. (Also available at West Coast Summer Series.)
* SPECIAL CONFERENCE DAY: SECRETS OF AGING - Held at the Franklin
Institute in Philadelphia, this program featuring national speakers will
highlight the four major theme areas of the Secrets of Aging exhibit:
Body, Mind, Spirit, and Longevity.
For additional information or to register, please visit
www.asaging.org/summer-series or contact Alessandra Chargorodsky,
415-974-9617.

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WOMEN'S MIDLIFE JOURNEY: Exploring the Power of the Midlife Journey: A
Women's Retreat (June 2-7, 2002) Exploring health, wisdom and empowerment
of a woman's journey through the perimenopausal and menopausal stages of
her life. Specifically focused on the transitions of midlife into the
wisdom years.  For more information, visit:
http://dukehealth.org/int_med/midlife.asp

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INTERFAITH DIALOGUE: "Love and the Care of the Patient: A
Protestant/Jewish Dialogue" (June 3, 2002, New York, NY) With Harvey Cox,
Ph.D., Professor of Divinity, Harvard Divinity School, and Rabbi Rolando
Matalon, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, New York, NY. Part of the
"Spirituality, Religious Wisdom, and the Care of the Patient" colloquium,
St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center. 5:30-7:30 PM, 325 West 15th
Street, NY, NY. Register by phone (212 604 8140), fax (212 604 2495), or
e-mail at:
ggarvin@saintvincentsnyc.org

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AGING BOOMERS: "The Boomers Come of Retirement Age--
What are the prospects?" (June 6-7, 2002, Vancouver.
BC). Sponsored by the Gerontology Research Centre of Simon Fraser
University at Harbour Centre. 2800-515 West Hastings St., Vancouver BC V6B
5K3 CANADA For registration, contact (604)291-5062; or email at:
gero@sfu.ca
Visit the website at:
http://www.harbour.sfu.ca/gero/friesen%2013th%202002.html

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NARRATIVES OF POWER in Health Care. Tenth Annual Summer Seminar (June
8-13, 2002, Hiram College, Hiram, OH) Sponsored by the Center for
Literature, Medicine, and the Health Care of Northeastern Ohio
Universities College of Medicine. Faculty include: Howard Brody,Annette
Dula and Amy Haddad. Drama educators from the Great Lakes Theater Festival
will be in residence as well and the Seminar will develop and present a
production of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible." To register for the Seminar
or for more information:
Carol Donley or Martin Kohn, Mahan House, Hiram College, Hiram, OH 44234,
or call (330) 569-5380 or email: donleycc@hiram.edu

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CHANGING THE CULTURE OF AGING: (9 AM - 4:30 PM, June 12, 2002, New York
City). Annual Conference of Greater N.Y. Chapter, Professional Geriatric
Care Managers. H.R. Moody, Keynote Speaker.  Hunter School of Social Work,
129 E. 79 Street, NY, NY.  For more information, call (212) 222-9163.

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EDEN ALTERNATIVE: "Creating the 'Un-nursing' Home" (June 22-24, 2002,
Sherburne, NY). 2002 Summer Hill Witan Series. Summer Hill Retreat Center.
Contact: Phone: (607) 674-5232 Fax: (607) 674-6723 or visit
http://www.edenalt.com.

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If you have material you wish to offer to newsletter readers, please write
to Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

Past issues of the Newsletter are archived at:
http://www.healthandage.com/html/res/gergen/contenu/newsletter.htm