Promoting Hope in Older Adults
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
2-2018
Keywords
hope, older adult, goals, ageism, aging
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199399314.013.13
Abstract
As evidenced by 15 years of research, hopeful older adults reject negative stereotypes of aging; envision themselves as aging successfully; plan for later life; cope with stressors; apply wisdom; and perceive good physical, mental, and social well-being. Hopeful older adults even live longer than less hopeful older adults. Preliminary research indicates that older adults participating in individual- and small-group interventions can learn and apply strategies to improve hope, goal pursuits, and distress. The larger social and physical environments create barriers to pursuing goals in later life, including ageism and physical barriers. Thus broader social and environmental interventions may provide additional pathways to foster older adults’ hope and goal pursuits, as well as to help younger generations develop more positive views of aging and prepare for successful aging.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Promoting Hope in Older Adults, in M. W. Gallagher & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Hope, Oxford
Scholar Commons Citation
Gum, Amber M., "Promoting Hope in Older Adults" (2018). Mental Health Law & Policy Faculty Publications. 909.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/mhlp_facpub/909
