A major problem in studying successful aging is that the concept can be defined in a number of ways. One particular definition is that successful aging refers to the extent to which individuals are happy or satisfied with their own lives (Bee, 2000). A number of approaches have attempted to measure the concept of successful aging, such as measures of happiness, well-being and life satisfaction (Diener, 1984, cited in Bee, 2000). A popular approach is the scale constructed by Bradburn (1969), which takes into account both positive and negative feelings (cited in Bee, 2000). The negative feelings include emotions such as loneliness, depression, boredom, restlessness, or being upset with criticism and the positive em

A longitudinal study conducted on a cohort of older men and women, aged between 70 and 79 found that self-efficacy beliefs have significant impacts on perceptions of functional disability, independent of actual underlying physical abilities (Seeman, Unger, McAvay & Mendes de Leon, 1999). Therefore, through such influences on perceptions of disability, self-efficacy beliefs may importantly affect lifestyles and quality of life at older ages (Seeman et al. 1999).

Current views and expectations about aging, are influenced by general societal beliefs and stereotypes (Baltes and Graf, 1996). Survey research has found that personal and societal expectations about old age are generally negative, with most people regarding old age as a period of decline and decreased frailty (Baltes and Graf, 1996). Therefore instead of looking forward to old age, most people want to remain young (Baltes and Graf, 1996). For instance, biology defines aging as that period in life when biological systems lose their efficacy and functioning

Some factors that have been associated with successful aging are better education, high income, non-smoking, more exercise and better mental health (Jorm, Christensen, Henerson, Jacomb, Korten and Mackinnon, 1998).

Some topics in this essay:
Baltes Graf, Locke Barbano, McAvay Mendes, , et al, seeman et al, seeman et, et al 1999, Korten Mackinnon, al 1999, self-efficacy beliefs, bee 2000, baltes graf 1996, graf 1996, baltes graf, cited bee, successful aging, cited bee 2000, cited seeman, cited seeman et,