1. Theories of Aging
Vaunette Payton Fay, Ph.D.

2. “Everyman desires to live long, but
no man would be old.”
Johnathan Swift, 1667-1745

3. Theories of Aging
Biological Theories
• address the anatomic and physiologic
changes occurring with age.
Psycho-Social Theories
• explain the thought processes and
behaviors of aging persons.

5. Biological Theories of Aging
Genetic Theories Nongenetic Theories
• Gene • Immunologic /
• Error Autoimmune
• Somatic mutation • Free Radical
• Programmed
• Wear & Tear
• Cross link or Collagen
http://prolongyouth.com/theories.html

6. Psycho-Social Theories of
Aging
• Disengagement
Theory
• Activity Theory
• Continuity Theory

7. Disengagement Theory
• developed by Cummings and Henry in late
1950’s.
• “aging is an inevitable, mutual withdrawal
or disengagement, resulting in decreased
interaction between the aging person and
others in the social system he/she belongs
to.”

8. Activity Theory
• developed by Robert Havighurst in the 1960’s.
• supports the maintenance of regular activities,
roles, and social pursuits.
• persons who achieve optimal age are those
who stay active.
• as roles change, the individual finds substitute
activities for these roles.

9. Continuity Theory
• proposed by Havighurst and co-workers in
reaction to the disengagement theory
• “basic personality, attitudes, and
behaviors remain constant throughout the
life span”

10. “ENJOY THE BALLET, LORETTA ….AND TRY TO SELL MY TICKET.”

11. ?????????????????????????
?????
What is the relevance of the
biological and psychosocial
theories of aging to nursing?

12. Developmental Tasks of
Aging

13. Developmental Task
• an activity or event that arises at a
certain period in the life of an individual
• successful achievement leads to
happiness, growth, and success with
later tasks
• failure leads to unhappiness,
disapproval by society, and difficulty
with later tasks
(Havighurst, 1972)

14. ????????????????????????
??????
What are some important
roles that older individuals
fulfill?

15. Erickson’s Developmental
Stages
• Young Adulthood (20-30)
- Intimacy vs. Isolation
• Middle Adulthood (30-60)
- Generativity vs. Stagnation
• Older Adulthood (60+)
- Integrity vs. Despair
Area of Resolution and Behavior:
Intimacy - capacity for relationships
vs.
Isolation - impersonal relations

16. Peck’s Developmental Tasks of Aging
• Ego Differentiation vs. Work-Role
Preoccupation
• Body Transcendence vs. Body
Preoccupation
• Ego Transcendence vs. Ego Preoccupation
(Peck, 1968)

17. Havighurst’s Developmental Tasks of Aging
• Adjusting to decreasing physical strength
and health
• Adjusting to retirement and reduced income
• Establishing an affilitation with one’s age
group
• Meeting civic and social obligations
• Establishing satisfactory living arrangements
• Adjusting to death of spouse

19. ????????????????????????
??????
What are factors which influences a
person’s success at achieving
developmental tasks?

20. Nursing Interventions
How can nurses assist elders accomplish
developmental tasks?
• encourage clients to maintain and establish
roles and relationships
• offer maximum opportunities for decision
making
• build on client’s unique interests ands skills
• listen to client’s concerns
• promote reminiscence (Eliopoulas,1995)

21. Common Psychosocial Changes
• Assume Grandparent Role
• Adjust to Retirement
• Increase Volunteer Activity
• Maintain or Develop New Interests
• Cope with Death of Spouse, or S.O.
• Adjust to Change in Intimacy & Sexuality
• Cope with Relocation
• Cope with Losses

22. Coping with Psychosocial Changes
& Developmental Crises
• Support System
• Community Resources
• Counseling
• Prayer/Religion

23. Spirituality and Religiosity
• These concepts are frequently
confused.
• Studies have found that nurses tend to
avoid addressing spiritual needs of
patients.

24. Spirituality is the:
• “totality of man’s inner resources,
• the ultimate concerns around which all other
values are focused,
• the central philosophy of life that guides conduct,
• and the meaning-giving center of human life
which influences all individual and social
behavior” (Moberg, 1979)
• “trust & faith in a power greater than oneself”
(levin & Taylor, 1997)

25. Religion is:
• only one aspect of spirituality;
• an organized practice of beliefs;
• may or may not fill an individual’s
spiritual needs eg. spiritual needs are
much broader & more personal than
any particular religious persuasion

26. Church and Synagogue Attendance
is:
• Lowest among those in their 30’s,
• Peaks in the late 50’s - early 60’s,
• Declines in late 60’s and early 70’s,
however 65+ are the most likely to
belong to church-affiliated groups

27. Research Findings:
• Black women tend to be significantly more religious
than black men and whites of both genders (Levin &
Taylor, 1993).
• Involvement in church activities tended to increase
self-esteem (Krause, 1995).
• Religious preference & practice were inversely
related to depressive symptomatology (Kennedy,
1996).
• Persons who attended religious services had lower
mortality (Oman & Reed, 1998).

28. Nursing Interventions that enhances
the spirituality of clients:
• Presence and acceptance
• Active Listening & Touch
• Value clarification
• Discuss pt’s. source of strength & instill
hope
• Conduct a spiritual assessment
• Call/make referral to clergy
• Pray, or obtain religious articles (Poncar,94;
MacLennan & Tsai, 95)