Skip to page content
State of the Science Conference
September 15-16, 2005
Conference
Home
Supporting older workers at work: A conceptual framework
Navigate Slides of This Session
Slides Index
Slides 1-14
Slides 15-27
Slides 28-40
Slides 41-50
Slides On This Page
- Prominent Biological/Physiological Theories of Aging - Wear and Tear
- How Does Biological / Physiological Aging Theory Inform Us About Functional Ability?
- How Does Biological / Physiological Aging Theory Inform Us About Functional Ability?
- Functional Ability Decline with Age
- How Does Biological / Physiological Aging Theory Inform Us About Functional Ability?
- Summary of the Prominent Theories of Aging
- Prominent Psychological Theories of Aging
- Longevity Theory (Karp, 2000)
- Activity, Disengagement, Continuity
- How Does Psychological Aging Theory Inform Us About Functional Ability?
- Summary of the Prominent Theories Of Aging
- Sociology and Aging
- Prominent Sociological Theories Of Aging
Prominent Biological/Physiological Theories of Aging - Wear and Tear
Graphic: The full listing of theories and relationships is presented again,
this time all leading to an image of an older man lifting weights.
How Does Biological / Physiological Aging Theory Inform Us About Functional
Ability?
Decline in cellular function and accumulation of waste that manifests
at the physiological level
Introduction of age related changes such as: osteoarthritis, chondromalacia,
greying of hair, reduced elasticity of skin, rigidity of the arteries, decline
in kidney function, opacification of the lens of the eye and decline in oxygen
uptake and delivery of oxygen throughout the body
Most changes in physiological function are all losses with a median
slope of 0.5% decline per year of the initial value at age 30 years (Yates,
2002)
How Does Biological / Physiological Aging Theory Inform Us About Functional
Ability?
At age 70 there would be overall about 80% of the original capacity
(of 100% at age 30) left. The range at 70 years could be from 80% to 20% left
whereas at age 40 the range is much narrower, 95% to 80% left (Yates, 2002)
Based on this research, to state that an individual has or does not
have the Functional Ability to accomplish productive work is a stretch
Functional Ability Decline with Age
Bar graph:
Age 40: Low = 80%; High = 95%
Age 70: Low = 20%; High = 80%
(adapted from Yates, 2002)
How Does Biological / Physiological Aging Theory Inform Us About Functional
Ability?
At age 70 there would be overall about 80% of the original capacity (of
100% at age 30) left. The range at 70 years would be from 100% to 20% left whereas
at age 40 the range would be much narrower, 100% to 80% left (Yates, 2002)
Based on this research, to state that an individual has or does not have
the Functional Ability to accomplish productive work is a stretch
Summary of the Prominent Theories of Aging
Biological / Physiological
Psychological
Sociological
Prominent Psychological Theories of Aging
Longevity Theory
Activity Theory
Disengagement Theory
Continuity Theory
Longevity Theory (Karp, 2000)
Body reminders such as arthritis, prostate problems, snoring
Calendar reminders such as birthdays, age 50 being symbolic of half-century
Generational reminders such as caregiving role for parents, grandparenthood,
realization of a distance socially and culturally from children
Contextual reminders such as becoming the oldest at work, highest seniority,
dressing appropriate for an age (speedo’s and bikini’s)
Mortality reminders such as a life-threatening illness, heart attack or
cancer
Activity, Disengagement, Continuity
More
(Burbank, 1986; Schroots, 1996; Goldberg, 2002; Leenerts, Teel et al., 2002; Lane,
2003; Resnick and Nigg, 2003; Thornton, 2003; Wadensten and Carlsson, 2003; Wilcox,
Bopp et al., 2003)
Less
(Warren, 1973; Cumming, 1975; Markson, 1975; Burbank, 1986; Birren and Bengtson,
1988; Birren and Bengtson, 1988, p.158; Achenbaum and Bengtson, 1994; Schroots,
1996; Hays, Landerman et al., 1998; Mein, Higgs et al., 1998; Coleman, Ivani-Chalian
et al., 1999; Bergstrom and Holmes, 2000; Karp, 2000)
Same
(Covey, 1981; Burbank, 1986; Atchley, 1989; Field, 1991; Onega and Tripp-Reimer,
1997; Melia, 1999)
How Does Psychological Aging Theory Inform Us About Functional Ability?
If an individual is motivated and active they are more likely to be able
to engage in productive work (Hansson, 2001; Franche and Krause, 2002).
Theories of psychological aging tend to study post-retirement so very
little is known about pre-retirement and aging other than personality development.
Remaining active and engaged as long as possible is a healthy quest based
on the overwhelming literature support for the activity theory.
As far as predicting functional ability based on psychological aging theory
it seems rather futile until more substantive research is available.
Summary of the Prominent Theories Of Aging
Biological / Physiological
Psychological
Sociological
Sociology and Aging
"Since it is the Other within us who is old, it is natural that the revelation
of our age should come to us from outside - from others."
(from Simone de Beauvoir’s book, Coming of Age, 1970)
Prominent Sociological Theories Of Aging
Age Stratification Theory
Aging And Society Paradigm
Political Economy Of Aging Theory
Ambivalence
Top of Page