PSYC 3490 Chapter Notes - Chapter 14: Swan Song, Cognitive Flexibility, Prefrontal Cortex
Document Summary
Optimal aging refers to age-related changes that improve the individual"s function. Rowe and kahn definition of successful aging the absence of disease and disability, high cognitive and physical functioning, and engagement with life. World health organization (who) definition of active aging the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation, and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age: similar to the bronfenbrenner ecological perspective. Proactive coping allows older adults to anticipate events that they believe represent a threat to their well-being and then engage in mental preparation to reduce the impact of the stress when it occurs. Actual physical health appears to be less important in predicting successful aging, even in an area of functioning as important to overall well-being as sexuality. Designing walkable neighborhoods should be a priority for supporting well-being in late life (those in non-walkable neighborhoods tend to be less active and more obese) Exercise is an important preventive measure in predicting overall well-being.