Analyzing Adjustment to Aging and Subjective Age from Angolan and Portuguese Community-dwelling Older Adults' Perspectives

SummaryBackgroundThe aging experience influences the ways an aging individual self-adjusts to challenges in late adulthood in various cultural settings. This study aims at examining the indicators of adjustment to aging (AtA) and subjective age (SA), and at investigating the latent constructs that can work as major determinants in AtA and SA in an older Portuguese and Angolan community-dwelling population.MethodsQuestionnaires were completed, specifically assessing participants' sociodemographic and health-related information. Semi-interviews with 102 older adults aged between 75 and 99 years (mean = 80.5, standard deviation = 5.76) were conducted, focusing on AtA and SA. Data were subjected to content analysis. The correlational structure and latent constructs of indicators of AtA and SA were analyzed by a multiple correspondence analysis.ResultsOutcomes from content analysis designated seven categories for AtA, which are “accomplishment and future projects,” “occupation and leisure,” “health and well-being,” “valorization of time and age,” “social support,” “stability and safety,” and “existential meaning and sense of limit”; and five emergent categories for SA, which are “in harmony,” “fearless,” “with concern,” “youthful,” and “satisfactory.” Social support was the most reported indicator of AtA (25.4%) and in harmony (22.3%) was indicated as the most frequent SA response. Adjustment and age was explained by a three-factor overall model—integrated, congruent, and concerned for Angolan participants; fulfilled, reconciliated, and driven were indicated as a best-fit model for the Portuguese elderly population.ConclusionThe findings presented in this paper emphasize the deepening of the concept of AtA in this population and its association with SA in an overall model.