Patterns of Health Behavior, Life Satisfaction, and Future Time Perspective in a Group of Old Aged Women: Data of 'Survivors' from a Longitudinal Study on Aging

Abstract

A widespread "old woman"-stereotype depicts the aging female as hypochondriac and illnessstricken. Considering several health-related variables (objective health assessment done by a physician; subjective health ratings on physical well-being and perceived stress; the degree of concern about health as a major theme of life; coping styles with regard to health status) data of 39 old aged women, born between 1890 and 1905 and grouped according to the manifestation of marital status, from the Bonn longitudinal study of aging were carefully analyzed. Evidence was yielded for 'future time perspective' being an important aspect of the psychological construct 'life satisfaction' because of having a strong impact on health-related behavior. Furthermore, some rather distinct patterns of dealing with health-related aspects were sketched out according to the specific manifestation of marital status. In general, the popular stereotype could not be supported: congruence between objective and subjective health ratings was more common than the reverse. While some women rather experienced physical decline, there were others who manifested "transcendence from bodily restriction" thus giving proof of growth-oriented developmental change and a high degree of plasticity and flexibility in very old age.