Psychological resilience and active aging among older people with mobility limitations

Sini Siltanen (), Anu Tourunen, Milla Saajanaho, Lotta Palmberg, Erja Portegijs and Taina Rantanen
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Sini Siltanen: University of Jyväskylä
Anu Tourunen: University of Jyväskylä
Milla Saajanaho: University of Jyväskylä
Lotta Palmberg: University of Jyväskylä
Erja Portegijs: University of Jyväskylä
Taina Rantanen: University of Jyväskylä

European Journal of Ageing, 2021, vol. 18, issue 1, No 7, 65-74

Abstract: Abstract Active aging refers to striving for well-being through preferred activity and may be restricted with declining mobility. We investigated whether psychological resilience, i.e., the ability to tolerate hardship, can aid older people in being active despite mobility limitations. Participants were 961 community-dwelling persons aged 75, 80, or 85 years living in Jyväskylä, Central Finland. Mobility limitations were indicated as self-reported difficulty in walking 2 km. Categories were no difficulty (reference), difficulty, and unable to walk. Resilience was assessed with the 10-item Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale and active aging with the University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging scale. Data were analyzed with OLS regression analyses, which were stratified by age. In all age-groups, having difficulties walking or being unable to walk 2 km was associated with lower active aging scores. Resilience moderated this association especially among the 75-year-olds, but not among the 85-year-olds: The higher the resilience score, the higher the active aging score among those reporting no or some walking difficulties. Those unable to walk 2 km had lower active aging scores irrespective of resilience level. Psychological resilience may alleviate the negative effects of early phase walking difficulties on active aging but may be insufficient to compensate for more severe walking limitations that restrict not only function but also autonomy.

Keywords: Coping; Adaptation; Walking; Participation; Successful aging (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1007/s10433-020-00569-4

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