Contextual Age as a Life-Position Index

Abstract

A contextual age construct was developed and examined as a transactional, life-position index of aging. The eighteen-item contextual age index included six interrelated dimensions: physical health, interpersonal interaction, mobility, life satisfaction, social activity, and economic security. In addition to the development of the index, associations among contextual age and sociodemographic characteristics were examined for a sample of 640 persons. Chronological age was correlated negatively with mobility and physical health, and positively with economic security, life satisfaction, and interpersonal interaction. Mobility, economic security, life satisfaction, physical health, and interpersonal interaction discriminated between chronological age groups. Interpersonal interaction, economic security, physical health, and social activity were predictors of life satisfaction. The contextual age construct raises questions concerning several negative myths about aging. The findings reflect the weak validity of chronological age as a unidimensional indicator of life-position and well-being.