Factors Predicting the Perception of Positive Aging In the Presence of Chronic Stress

The graying of the Baby Boomer generation brings with it increased longevity, higher prevalence of chronic illness, and changing expectations of the experience of growing old. Some people seem to experience aging better than others even in the face of life stressors. These individuals are defined as being resilient. Within a resilience and empowerment conceptual framework (O'Leary & Bhaju, 2006), the variables of sense of control, social support, loneliness, and optimism are important components that impact the positive aging experience. Using this model, the purpose of this study was to identify predictors of resilience that buffered males and females from chronic stress within the realm of the aging experience. This study was a secondary data analysis on a subsample of 3,262 individuals included in the 2004 core survey of the Health Retirement Study who were asked to complete the Psychosocial Leave-Behind Participant Lifestyle Questionnaire (PLBQ) after their initial interview. A surprising finding was that individuals with low to moderate optimism were more likely to predict their aging as positive even within the presence of chronic stress. In addition, resilient males were more likely to have social support and not be lonely as compared to their non-resilient counterparts. Resilient females were differentiated by non-resilient females by not letting their health get in the way of daily activities and by having a higher sense of control. Findings from this study inform how psychologists must take into account varying factors based on gender that enable individuals to be resilient in their aging experience.