The Identity Process Theory is a theory of how people adapt to aging. According to this theory, older people attribute their physical functioning to a more variable state of health or to their age. Health attributions...The Identity Process Theory is a theory of how people adapt to aging. According to this theory, older people attribute their physical functioning to a more variable state of health or to their age. Health attributions per se help older people avoid negative thoughts and feelings about themselves and their own process of aging. We explored health versus age attributions, and their effects upon depressive symptoms and negativity toward aging among 359 older Norwegians (age range = 60 - 91 years of age). Aging pertained to psychosocial loss, physical change, and psychological growth. Data collected in the 2004 WHOQOL-OLD Norwegian Field Study were analyzed by using a MANOVA and a validatory path analysis. Our findings consistently supported health attributions in relation to psychosocial loss (X2 = 20.37, df = 10, p = 0.03;GFI = 0.98, AGFI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.05), physical change (X2 = 35.03, df = 14, p = 0.000;GFI = 0.97, AGFI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.06), and psychological growth (X2 = 22.22, df = 13, p = 0.05;GFI = 0.98, AGFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.04). Health attributions increased participants’ depressive symptoms and negativity toward aging, especially toward psychosocial loss (β= -?0.45, p = 0.000) and physical change (β= - 0.48, p = 0.000). We relate these theoretically contradictory findings to Norwegian cultural beliefs and values. We make recommendations for research, including normalizing depressive symptoms and cross-cultural investigations.展开更多
The prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is growing, and people are living with this disease well into older age. Little is known about how people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease adapt to agi...The prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is growing, and people are living with this disease well into older age. Little is known about how people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease adapt to aging, particularly the physical changes of aging. According to the Identity Process Theory, people are inclined to attribute age-related changes in physical functioning to a transitory state of health, but not their physical health or appearance. Attributing one’s physical functioning to aging itself makes people believe that they are physically “old” and enhances negative affect. We tested the Identity Process Theory using secondary physical functioning and physical health data collected from 87 pulmonary rehabilitation program participants with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (age range = 47 - 82 years of age). Transient health states were participants’ 6-Minute Walk Distance and perceived breathlessness during a time-limited exercise test using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale. Participants’ age-related changes in physical functioning were attributed to walk distances and their physical health to the physical changes of aging (X2 = 18.55, df = 10, p = 0.05;GFI = 0.95;RMSEA = 0.10). These attribution patterns were replicated in the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion model (X2 = 13.34, df = 10, p = 0.21;GFI = 0.96;RMSEA = 0.06). The attributing of age-related changes in physical functioning to either transient health state circumvented their propensity for negative affect. Our findings are discussed in relation to maintaining physical functioning and general physical health promotion among Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program participants with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.展开更多
文摘The Identity Process Theory is a theory of how people adapt to aging. According to this theory, older people attribute their physical functioning to a more variable state of health or to their age. Health attributions per se help older people avoid negative thoughts and feelings about themselves and their own process of aging. We explored health versus age attributions, and their effects upon depressive symptoms and negativity toward aging among 359 older Norwegians (age range = 60 - 91 years of age). Aging pertained to psychosocial loss, physical change, and psychological growth. Data collected in the 2004 WHOQOL-OLD Norwegian Field Study were analyzed by using a MANOVA and a validatory path analysis. Our findings consistently supported health attributions in relation to psychosocial loss (X2 = 20.37, df = 10, p = 0.03;GFI = 0.98, AGFI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.05), physical change (X2 = 35.03, df = 14, p = 0.000;GFI = 0.97, AGFI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.06), and psychological growth (X2 = 22.22, df = 13, p = 0.05;GFI = 0.98, AGFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.04). Health attributions increased participants’ depressive symptoms and negativity toward aging, especially toward psychosocial loss (β= -?0.45, p = 0.000) and physical change (β= - 0.48, p = 0.000). We relate these theoretically contradictory findings to Norwegian cultural beliefs and values. We make recommendations for research, including normalizing depressive symptoms and cross-cultural investigations.
文摘The prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is growing, and people are living with this disease well into older age. Little is known about how people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease adapt to aging, particularly the physical changes of aging. According to the Identity Process Theory, people are inclined to attribute age-related changes in physical functioning to a transitory state of health, but not their physical health or appearance. Attributing one’s physical functioning to aging itself makes people believe that they are physically “old” and enhances negative affect. We tested the Identity Process Theory using secondary physical functioning and physical health data collected from 87 pulmonary rehabilitation program participants with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (age range = 47 - 82 years of age). Transient health states were participants’ 6-Minute Walk Distance and perceived breathlessness during a time-limited exercise test using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale. Participants’ age-related changes in physical functioning were attributed to walk distances and their physical health to the physical changes of aging (X2 = 18.55, df = 10, p = 0.05;GFI = 0.95;RMSEA = 0.10). These attribution patterns were replicated in the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion model (X2 = 13.34, df = 10, p = 0.21;GFI = 0.96;RMSEA = 0.06). The attributing of age-related changes in physical functioning to either transient health state circumvented their propensity for negative affect. Our findings are discussed in relation to maintaining physical functioning and general physical health promotion among Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program participants with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
