An Examination of Factors Promoting / Restraining the acceptance of aging among the Elderly

Abstract

Elderly people experience the decline of the physical functions, and various other losses including that of social role and the bereavement of or separation with people they are close to. We think that acceptance of aging is necessary for the shortening of the period of depression that occurs when elderly people accept losses, the prevention of the social isolation results from the death of their spouse, and the occurrence of adaptive behaviors to the degradation of the body function. In this study, we conducted an inventory survey of 93 elderly people and examined the factors that promote the acceptance of aging. The results showed that subjective well-being and economic condition were related to the acceptance of aging. Results of the cluster analysis showed that elderly people with high degree of acceptance of aging had high subjective well-being and were satisfied with their economic condition. In addition, it was found that the plural experiences of stressful life events within a fixed period would possibly interrupt the acceptance of aging.