Theories of Aging. Activity theory, on the other hand, sees a positive correlation between keeping active and aging well. Proponents of activity theory hold that mutual social withdrawal runs counter to traditional American ideals of activity, energy, and industry. To date, research has not shown either of these models to be superior to the other.
Activity theory, on the other hand, sees a positive correlation between keeping active and aging well. Proponents of activity theory hold that mutual social withdrawal runs counter to traditional American ideals of activity, energy, and industry. To date, research has not shown either of these models to be superior to the other.
There are many theories about the mechanisms of age-related changes, and they are mutually exclusive, no one theory is sufficiently able to explain the process of aging, and they often contradict one another.
Theories of Aging. Erik Erikson, who took a special interest in this final stage of life, concluded that the primary psychosocial task of late adulthood (65 and beyond) is to maintain ego integrity (holding on to one's sense of wholeness), while avoiding despair (fearing there is too little time to begin a new life course).
Selective Optimization and Compensation Theory As an individual age, the adaptation is done by the process of optimizing more satisfying roles in life. Baltes believes that selected optimization combined with compensation is a healthy coping strategy that helps people age successfully.
Three major psychosocial theories of aging—activity theory, disengagement theory, and continuity theory—are summarized and evaluated.
The programmed theory: Gene Theory, which considers aging to be the result of a sequential switching on and off of certain genes, with senescence being defined as the time when age-associated deficits are manifested.
Contemporary theories of aging highlight psychosocial resources and psychological processes as important modifiers of associations among early-life contexts, socioeconomic factors, and health outcomes in later life.
The rate of living theory postulates each person has a finite number of heart beats. The gene theory discusses aging from the perspective of one or more harmful genes that are activated over time and bring about age-related changes. The somatic mutation proposes that aging is caused by environmental damage to DNA.
Programmed theory is the idea that aging is genetically programmed to occur with time, and this process of deterioration eventually leads to death. Damage theory is the idea that external or environmental forces gradually damage cells and organs, leading to aging and death.
There are several error theories of aging:Wear and tear theory asserts that cells and tissues simply wear out.Rate of living theory is the idea that the faster an organism uses oxygen, the shorter it lives.Cross-linking theory states that cross-linked proteins accumulate and slow down the body's processes.More items...•
Nurses have the ability to synthesize various aspects of the different aging theories, and they visualize older adults interfacing with their total environment, including physical, mental/emotional, social, and spiritual aspects.
The activity theory of aging proposes that older adults are happiest when they stay active and maintain social interactions. These activities, especially when meaningful, help the elderly to replace lost life roles after retirement and, therefore, resist the social pressures that limit an older person's world.
Some of the more commonly discussed theories and their relation to ageing are summarised below:Disengagement Theory.Activity Theory.The Neuroendocrine Theory.The Free Radical Theory.The Membrane Theory of Aging.The Decline Theory.The Cross-Linking Theory.
Three major psychosocial theories on aging are continuity theory, disengagement theory, and activity theory.
Erik Erikson, who took a special interest in this final stage of life, concluded that the primary psychosocial task of late adulthood (65 and beyond) is to maintain ego integrity (holding on to one's sense of wholeness), while avoiding despair (fearing there is too little time to begin a new life course).