title: How could lay perspectives on successful aging complement scientific theory? Findings from a u.s. And a German life-span sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article investigates lay perspectives of the concept of successful aging in young, middle-aged, and older adults from 2 cultures, the United States and Germany, to potentially guide the development of scientific theories of successful aging. The empirical findings are embedded in a comprehensive overview of theories of successful aging and life-span development and offer implications for theory development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two samples of young, middle-aged, and older adults from the United States (N = 151) and Germany (N = 155) were asked about definitions and determinants of successful aging. Codes were developed to capture common themes among the answers, resulting in 16 categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Themes mentioned included resources (health, social), behaviors (activities), and psychological factors (strategies, attitudes/beliefs, well-being, meaning). There were striking similarities across countries, age, and gender. Health and Social Resources were mentioned most frequently, followed by Activities/Interests, Virtues/Attitudes/Beliefs, Well-being, and Life management/Coping. Age differences were limited to Growth/Maturation and Respect/Success, and gender differences were limited to Social Resources and Well-being. Educational and cultural effects were limited to psychological factors and Education/Knowledge, which were more often mentioned by U.S. participants and individuals with more education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young, middle-aged, and older lay persons from the United States and Germany have quite similar concepts of successful aging, which they view in far more multidimensional terms than do established scientific theories (Rowe & Kahn, 1998). Given evidence that factors mentioned by laypeople do promote successful aging, considering them in more comprehensive theoretical models may enhance our understanding.
authors: Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York. jopp@fordham.edu.
authors: Daniela S
authors: DS
authors: Jopp
authors: Institute for Gerontology, Heidelberg University, Germany.
authors: Dagmara
authors: D
authors: Wozniak
authors: Department of Cultural and Behavioral Science, Georgia Perimeter College, Dunwoody.
authors: Amanda K
authors: AK
authors: Damarin
authors: Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York.
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: De Feo
authors: Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York.
authors: Seojung
authors: S
authors: Jung
authors: Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York.
authors: Sheena
authors: S
authors: Jeswani
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Lay perspective; Qualitative interviews; Successful aging