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The potential of older adults to enhance community quality of life: Links between positive psychology and productive aging

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Abstract

Enhancing quality of life in aging is an important goal of gerontologists. Quality of life research tends to view aging persons as recipients of external influences rather than active agents operating in context. Quality of life and subjective well-being can be regarded as functions of the extent of fit between the person and the environment, a fit which can be improved by enhancing personal abilities, reducing environmental press, and/or a combination of these. It follows that the expression of individual talents and competencies can be facilitated by removing barriers to their development and expression. This paper combines recent empirical work on productive ageing with concepts from the emerging science of positive psychology in order to illustrate the potential of the person-environment fit concept to enhance the ability of older people to contribute to society and improve the quality of life of the whole community. It is argued that older people have unique talents in the realms of community development and citizenship. A paradigm shift in attitudes to older people is required, towards viewing them as a resource rather than a burden. Proactive ageing can enhance an older individual’s quality of life and by extension the quality of life of the whole community. The paper concludes with implications for professionals, families and caregivers, policy-makers, and gerontological researchers.

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  1. School of Psychology, University of South Australia, 5072, Magill, South Australia

    Rob Ranzijn Ph. D.

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Rob Ranzijn is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and the President of the Australian Association of Gerontology (SA/NT Division). His publications in social gerontology include papers on well-being, productive ageing, mature aged employment, fear of crime, and Indigenous ageing.

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Ranzijn, R. The potential of older adults to enhance community quality of life: Links between positive psychology and productive aging. Ageing Int. 27, 30–55 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-002-1001-5

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