Activity theory (aging)

The activity theory of aging is a concept addressing the sociological and psychological aspects of the process of growing older. It provides a basis for assessing the physical and mental well-being of the aging person and helps determine ways to improve or optimize quality of life and longevity. The activity theory specifically addresses the way remaining physically and mentally active and staying engaged in social activities and relationships improves the quality of the aging process and slows decline in mental, physical, and emotional health.

The theory is one of several pertaining to the way people age. It is also known as the move-to-live theory, the lay theory, the normal theory, and the implicit theory. While it is widely accepted that remaining physically active and maintaining fulfilling relationships can add to people’s self-worth and well-being, the theory has limitations. Financial concerns and physical barriers imposed by medical conditions can keep some people from being as active as they would like, and this can have an additional effect on the aging process. In addition, some critics of the theory have noted that being active is not enough; the activity the older person is engaged in has to have personal meaning and generate a sense of fulfillment or it can add to the challenges of aging.

Background

From the moment of birth, people age. Through young adulthood, this aging leads to physical and mental development that helps people become fully functioning adults. Once maturity is reached, the body’s various systems begin a very slow process of decline. Over many years, physical changes occur. The bones become less dense, which can cause a person to shrink in size and increase the likelihood of broken bones, leading to physical limitations. Muscle mass and strength gradually decrease as well, which also changes a person’s physical abilities. Vision and hearing sometimes change, making some everyday activities more challenging. The skin becomes thinner and less elastic, leading to wrinkles and physical changes in appearance. Other systems, such as the brain and nervous system, digestive system, cardiovascular system, reproductive system, and urinary tract can all be affected by years of use as well as exposure to certain foods, medications, and environmental agents. While some of these changes depend on an individual’s personal health history and level of exercise and nutrition, some form of change is inevitable once a person has reached the sixth decade of life.

Older people experience other changes as well. Those who were parents will likely have seen their children grow and go out on their own, while those who work may have reached the age where they can retire from their jobs. These changes alter a person’s sense of identity and can leave some people feeling as if they have lost some purpose in their lives. Older relatives and friends die and younger ones move or pursue their own lives, which can result in a sense of isolation for older people as life changes around them. Older people must also face the reality that the end of their life is coming, which can cause some to become sad, scared, or otherwise upset.

Not all the changes related to aging are negative. People who have raised their families and are able to retire often have more time to pursue personal interests. The physical changes related to aging can often be seen as a reason to slow down and take less responsibility, leaving more time for enjoying life. People over sixty-five are usually judged less by others and are less concerned with how others see them, which brings a sense of emotional peace. Those who feel they have had a full and accomplished life may enjoy taking time to reflect on their past.

Overview

As life expectancy improved in the mid-twentieth century due to disease control and treatment innovations, researchers became increasingly interested in how people age and the factors that led to “good” aging. Aging was thought to be good if the person was able to enjoy relatively good health and function concerning mobility, ability to participate in everyday activities, and other quality-of-life measures.

Experts developed several theories about the aging process. Each took a different approach to explaining it. Three of the main theories include the disengagement theory, the continuity theory, and the activity theory.

The disengagement theory proposes that people inevitably withdraw from participation in social and personal interactions as they age. It states that this process is completely acceptable, normal, and universal. It is also unidirectional, meaning the older person, not others, initiates the withdrawal.

The continuity theory proposes that people find different ways to continue the same activities they have always done as they age. Instead of stopping an activity that has been impacted by physical or social changes, the middle-aged or older person finds ways to adapt or adapt to the activity. Someone who was always very active in their children’s activities may continue this by attending grandchildren’s sporting events or other extracurricular activities. A retired person may become an active volunteer, and someone who skated competitively may continue doing so recreationally or become a skating teacher.

Robert J. Havighurst developed the activity theory in 1961. Havighurst was a chemist and physicist who specialized in human development and had a keen interest in aging. In the late 1940s, he proposed the developmental theory that said that people have six stages of development, each of which ends when the person has accomplished a specific development goal. This led to the development of the activity theory that defined aging in terms of the degree to which a person pursued satisfying and fulfilling activities rather than how much disengagement from life occurred.

The activity theory has a sociological-psychological basis that emphasizes the importance of being involved in social activities, particularly those that have meaning for the person. It does not endorse activity simply for the sake of being active. For example, according to the theory, it is not enough for a person to go for a walk with neighbors or join other residents in a retirement home to play cards if the person does not find those activities fulfilling, stimulating, and satisfying. However, if a person goes for a walk with former coworkers because they enjoy their company or play a card game they enjoy with friends, then the action would be seen as a positive activity according to the theory.

Such activities are seen as positives because they add to the person’s satisfaction with their situation in life. They also tend to improve the person’s self-worth and make life more worthwhile. This has the effect of encouraging the person to pursue similar activities and helps to maintain a positive self-identity. All of this can have a spillover effect in other areas of the person’s life. For example, a person who enjoys walking with friends is more likely to eat healthy foods and take other steps to ensure they can keep walking with them.

Some large twenty-first-century studies and reviews of decades of research have supported the importance of maintaining physical activity and social engagement throughout life. Maintaining engagement and activity results in a sense of purpose and provides a structure to the day, which is critical for mental well-being. However, some research suggests that how older adults are informed about the benefits of engagement and physical fitness fails to frame the full benefits, focusing mainly on heart health or other physical benefits. Some experts suggest framing the approach in personal ways that are important for the aging individual will improve the application of the aging theory.

While the theory has received broad support, it also has been subject to some criticism. Some researchers point out that older adults are more likely than others to experience the side effects of negative health and decreased financial circumstances. These can interfere with a person’s ability to pursue satisfying activities that increase self-worth and allow them to maintain relationships. Someone with a bad back or who has broken bones in a fall is not going to enjoy physical activity, and someone whose finances force them into subsidized housing may not have the resources to host friends for a weekly card game. Changes like this can negatively impact the person and lead to disengagement.

Critics also suggest that the theory does not account for people who may be happier withdrawing and living a quieter life. For instance, someone whose career forced him to take frequent business trips might be glad to stay closer to home during retirement. Others who have always preferred staying close to home may continue to do that without it indicating that they have withdrawn from social relationships. Still others say that looking at any one theory to explain aging is too limiting. Instead, they advocate looking at how content the person is with where they are in life regardless of whether they are continuing previous activities or enjoying a quieter, slower life as a benefit of the aging process.

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