title: Successful aging at 100 years: the relevance of subjectivity and psychological resources.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very old individuals seem to present an admirable capacity to overcome adversities and adapt to the challenges of advanced age. However, studies focusing successful pattern of centenarians found that they may easily fail to be categorized as successful agers when objective criteria are applied. The present study examines if centenarians can be considered successful agers. Following Rowe and Kahn's successful aging model, the primary goal was to clarify whether centenarians are able to be successful agers according to objective and subjective criteria of no major disease and disability, high cognitive and physical functioning and engagement with life. The second goal was to investigate whether socio-demographic factors, psychological, social, and economic resources are related to objective and subjective successful aging profiles.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined different profiles of successful aging in a high selected sample of individuals aged 100 and more years old from the population-based Oporto Centenarian Study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Main findings reveal that centenarians do not represent the prototype of successful aging, but self-ratings demonstrate that many of them feel successful, despite not being objectively considered as so. Those who were considered successful agers presented higher values of self-efficacy, hope, and purpose in life, as well as few difficulties in covering financial expenses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a basis for strengthening the existing model, the value of subjectivity should be explored and psychological resources promoted in interventions to foster positive adaptation in very old age.
authors.affiliation: UnIFai- ICBAS,University of Porto;ESEV,CI&DETS,Viseu,Portugal.
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: UnIFai,CINTESIS-ICBAS,University of Porto;University of Aveiro;Higher Institute of Social Service of Porto (ISSSP),Portugal.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: UnIFai,CINTESIS-ICBAS,University of Porto,Portugal.
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: UnIFai,CINTESIS-ICBAS,University of Porto,Portugal.
authors.forename: Constança
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paúl
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: centenarians; longevity; resources; subjectivity; successful aging