@article{ref1,
title="Natural occurrence of subjective aging experiences in community-dwelling older adults",
journal="Journals of gerontology. Series B: psychological sciences and social sciences",
year="2014",
author="Miche, Martina and Wahl, Hans-Werner and Diehl, Manfred and Oswald, Frank and Kaspar, Roman and Kolb, Maren",
volume="69",
number="2",
pages="174-187",
abstract="Objectives.The subjective experience of aging is a relevant correlate of developmental outcomes. However, traditional approaches fall short of capturing the inherent multidimensionality of subjective aging experiences (SAEs). Based on the concept of Awareness of Age-Related Change (AARC; Diehl, M. K., & Wahl, H.-W. (2010). Awareness of age-related change: Examination of a (mostly) unexplored concept. Journals of Gerontology: Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 65, 340-350. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbp110), this study provides a description of SAEs that is facet rich, and based on their natural occurrence, analyzes interindividual differences and associations with well-being.Method.Data came from 225 participants (70-88 years) of the ongoing BEWOHNT study. Open-ended diary entries about age-related experiences were collected for more than 14 days and coded according to AARC domains and subdomains. RESULTS: Seventy percent of all participants had SAEs about physical functioning. About half of the sample reported experiences in the domains interpersonal relations, social-emotional and social-cognitive functioning (COGN-EMOT), and lifestyle. Thirty percent experienced aging in terms of changes in cognitive functioning. Contents of SAEs varied by gender, age group, and functional status. SAEs about COGN-EMOT were most consistently related to affective components of subjective well-being.Discussion.Our results demonstrate the benefits of an open-ended approach to a multidimensional understanding of SAEs. Content-related, social-cognitive and social-emotional changes more than functional age-related changes were most important for well-being.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1079-5014",
doi="10.1093/geronb/gbs164",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbs164"
}