Theoretical Blog - Late Adulthood

Theoretical Blog - Late Adulthood

There are many different theories in late adulthood.  Some theorists think that late adulthood should be broken up into two stages:  late adulthood (ages 60 to 75) and old age (75 until death) because one stage is not enough to encompass the span of life from 60 until death.  (Ashford, 2013).  There are many different theories but there are still some characteristics shared of individuals within this stage of late adulthood.  Some of the characteristics are:  concern with leaving a legacy; change in the sense of time; desire to share the wealth of accumulated knowledge, experience, and wisdom with the young; attachment with familiar objects, creativity, curiosity and surprise.  (Ashford, 2013, p. 601).  There are different characteristics but according to the continuity theory, the changes in the late adulthood stage are very subtle.  This theory suggests that older adults maintain many of the same activities, behaviors, and relationships in which they have had lifetime involvement.  This could include habits that an individual has had, or places he or she has been going to for a long period of time.  In this theory, one's behavior becomes more predictable and is proven by looking at someone's life experiences, their relationships, their habits, and their behaviors from earlier adulthood.  For example, if a person has been going to the same church, social group, or civic club for many years, then it is probable that they will continue to participate in these activities in late adulthood.

Another theory in late adulthood is the activity theory.  This theory focuses more on change rather than continuity.  It states that if an individual stays active and participates in many different roles in late adulthood, his or her overall well-being will be better for the remainder of his or her life.  (Ashford, 2013).  According to this theory, getting or staying involved with meaningful activities in late adulthood can contribute to a healthier, longer life.  A commonly accepted example is that people who have personal, meaningful activities (i.e. volunteering), typically live longer.  This is a little different from the continuity theory because the activity theory is more about being intentionally active in the late adulthood; whereas, the continuity theory is more about past experiences.  Both of these theories could be valid in helping with the study of late adulthood.

Ashford, J. B., Lecroy, C. W., (2013).  Human behavior in the Social Environment, A Multidimensional Perspective.  Cengage Learning.