Successful aging in the United States: prevalence estimates from a national sample of older adults.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of successful aging in the United States, with the broad aim of contributing to the dialogue on Rowe and Kahn's concept of successful aging.


METHODS
Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, the prevalence of successful aging was calculated for adults aged 65 years and older at four time points: 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004. Successful aging was operationalized in accordance with Rowe and Kahn's definition, which encompasses disease and disability, cognitive and physical functioning, social connections, and productive activities.


RESULTS
No greater than 11.9% of older adults were aging "successfully" in any year. The adjusted odds of successful aging were generally lower for those of advanced age, male gender, and lower socioeconomic status. Between 1998 and 2004, the odds of successful aging declined by 25%, after accounting for demographic changes in the older population.


CONCLUSIONS
Few older adults meet the criteria put forth in Rowe and Kahn's definition of successful aging, suggesting the need for modification if the concept is to be used for broad public health purposes. Disparities in successful aging were evident for socially defined subgroups, highlighting the importance of structural factors in enabling successful aging.
McLaughlin
Sara J
SJ
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, USA. sjmclaug@bu.edu
Connell
Cathleen M
CM
Heeringa
Steven G
SG
Li
Lydia W
LW
Roberts
J Scott
JS
D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology