A1 Journal article (refereed)
Psychological resilience and active aging among older people with mobility limitations (2021)

Siltanen, S., Tourunen, A., Saajanaho, M., Palmberg, L., Portegijs, E., & Rantanen, T. (2021). Psychological resilience and active aging among older people with mobility limitations. European Journal of Ageing, 18(1), 65-74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-020-00569-4

JYU authors or editors

Siltanen, Sini
Tourunen, Anu
Saajanaho, Milla
Palmberg, Lotta
Portegijs, Erja
Rantanen, Taina

Publication details

All authors or editors: Siltanen, Sini; Tourunen, Anu; Saajanaho, Milla; Palmberg, Lotta; Portegijs, Erja; Rantanen, Taina

Journal or series: European Journal of Ageing

ISSN: 1613-9372

eISSN: 1613-9380

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 18

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 65-74

Publisher: Springer

Publication country: Germany

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-020-00569-4

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/69068

Abstract

Active aging refers to striving for well-being through preferred activity and may be restricted with declining mobility. We investigated whether psychological resilience, i.e., the ability to tolerate hardship, can aid older people in being active despite mobility limitations. Participants were 961 community-dwelling persons aged 75, 80, or 85 years living in Jyväskylä, Central Finland. Mobility limitations were indicated as self-reported difficulty in walking 2 km. Categories were no difficulty (reference), difficulty, and unable to walk. Resilience was assessed with the 10-item Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale and active aging with the University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging scale. Data were analyzed with OLS regression analyses, which were stratified by age. In all age-groups, having difficulties walking or being unable to walk 2 km was associated with lower active aging scores. Resilience moderated this association especially among the 75-year-olds, but not among the 85-year-olds: The higher the resilience score, the higher the active aging score among those reporting no or some walking difficulties. Those unable to walk 2 km had lower active aging scores irrespective of resilience level. Psychological resilience may alleviate the negative effects of early phase walking difficulties on active aging but may be insufficient to compensate for more severe walking limitations that restrict not only function but also autonomy.

Keywords: older people; ageing; ability to move; walking (motion); physical disabilities; resilience; coping; adaptation (change); participation