- Please respond to peer
- Using information about theories on aging from your textbook, discuss longevity in later adulthood. Which theory do you feel does the best job of explaining the aging process? Explain your answer.
Health, social connection, technology advancements, economic factors, and social values influence longevity in later adulthood. As people live longer lives, we must address these multidimensional aspects and show our support to live a healthy and happy life as one reaches an older age. The theory that did the best job of explaining the aging process is the activity theory. According to Zastrow, Kirst-Ashman, & Hessenauer (2019), “activity theory asserts that the more physically and mentally active people are, the more successfully they will age” (Zastrow, C.H., Kirst-Ashman, K.K., & Hessenauer, S. 2019. p 683). For older people, finding something you can enjoy doing, whether picking up a new hobby, joining a club/organization, going for a walk, or even getting a part-time job, is beneficial to one’s overall health. Being involved in the community in any aspect that you see fit helps you feel like you are contributing to society and not disengaging from everyone you once associated with. “Being physically and mentally active helps to maintain the physiological, psychological, and intellectual functions of older people” (Zastrow, C.H. et al., 2019. p 684).
References
Zastrow, C.H., Kirst-Ashman, K.K., & Hessenauer, S. (2019). Empowerment series: Understanding human behavior and the social environment. 11th ed., Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
