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The Consistency of Definitions of Successful Aging Provided by Older Men: The Manitoba Follow-up Study*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2009

Robert B. Tate ,
Brenda L. Loewen ,
Dennis J. Bayomi  and
Barbara J. Payne
Robert B. Tate*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba
Brenda L. Loewen
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba
Dennis J. Bayomi
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba
Barbara J. Payne
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba
*
†Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: / La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à : Robert B. Tate, Ph.D. Manitoba Follow-up Study T148 – 770 Bannatyne Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3 ([email protected])
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Abstract

In the absence of a universally agreed-upon definition of successful aging, researchers increasingly look to older adults for layperson views of aging and definitions of successful aging. To use lay definitions in studies of aging, however, researchers must address the definitions’ consistency. In 2004, surviving members of the Manitoba Follow-up Study male cohort (mean age: 83 years) were asked twice for their definition of successful aging. A consistency category was assigned based on the similarity of themes in each of 654 pairs of definitions. At least half of the main themes were similar in 70 per cent of the definition pairs; 80 per cent of respondents repeated at least one theme. Positive or negative health events in the four-week interval between definitions and specific respondents’ characteristics did not vary across consistency categories. This evidence for consistency supports our continued reliance on lay definitions of successful aging.

Résumé

Sans une définition universellement accepté du vieillissement réussi, chercheurs examiner plus en plus les vues profanes et définitions du vieillissement des personnes âgées. Pour utiliser les définitions non initiés dans les études de vieillissement, cependant, les chercheurs doivent aborder le cohérence de ces définitions. En 2004, les membres survivants de la cohorte mâle du Manitoba Suivi Study (âge moyen : 83 ans) ont été deux fois demandé leur définition du vieillissement réussi. Une échelle de cohérence a été définie, et une catégorie de cohérence a été attribuée sur la base de la similitude des thèmes dans chacune des 654 paires de définitions. Au moins la moitié des thèmes principaux étaient similaire dans 70 pour cent de la définition de paires; 80 pour cent des répondants ont répété au moins un thème. Événements de santé positive ou négative dans l’intervalle de quatre semaines entre les définitions et les caractéristiques spécifiques des répondants n’ont pas variés de catégories. Cette preuve de cohérence confirme notre dépendance continue des définitions du vieillissement réussi.

Keywords

coherencevues profanesvieillardsvieillissement réussiconsistencylay viewsolder mensuccessful aging
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , December 2009 , pp. 315 - 322
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2009

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Footnotes

*

The authors sincerely acknowledge the 60-year ongoing contribution of the 3,983 members of the Manitoba Follow-up Study cohort. We gratefully acknowledge the invaluable assistance of the research staff Madge Biddell and Barbara Masterman, and clinical staff Drs. T. Edward Cuddy and Leon Michaels. The Manitoba Follow-up Study is funded by the Manitoba Health Research Council and by an operating grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR - MOP-67019).

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