Adjustment to Aging in Late Adulthood: A Systematic Review

SummaryBackgroundThis systematic review aims at providing a trustworthy overview of the concept of adjustment to aging (AtA) in late adulthood.MethodsA computerized literature search was carried out, and PubMed/Medline, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and Scielo databases were searched for studies published from 1981 to 2012. Studies must have investigated AtA in old age.ResultsThirteen articles from 1291 records met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 1156 participants aged ≥ 60 years. There are rather consistent findings that older adults develop active and adaptive strategies during AtA, and that psychological variables, engagement with significant others, and social and temporal processes of comparison have a relevant role in AtA among older populations.ConclusionThe findings presented here contribute to a better understanding of AtA and its multidimensionality. These may be a starting point for further research in this insufficiently explored field.