Social and Emotional Aging

2009/12/04 by Susan T. Charles, Laura L. Carstensen · 1,608 citations
Neuroscience · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Adaptation (eye) #Aging and Gerontology Research #Anxiety #Clinical psychology #Cognition #Cognitive aging #Cognitive psychology #Developmental psychology #Distress #Emotional distress #Gerontology #Health disparities and outcomes #Life span #Neuroscience #Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction #Psychological resilience #Psychology #Social psychology #Successful aging

paper · open access · doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100448

published in Annual Review of Psychology 61(1), 383-409 (Annual Reviews)

openalex publication_date 2009/12/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06

Abstract

The past several decades have witnessed unidimensional decline models of aging give way to life-span developmental models that consider how specific processes and strategies facilitate adaptive aging. In part, this shift was provoked by the stark contrast between findings that clearly demonstrate decreased biological, physiological, and cognitive capacity and those suggesting that people are generally satisfied in old age and experience relatively high levels of emotional well-being. In recent years, this supposed "paradox" of aging has been reconciled through careful theoretical analysis and empirical investigation. Viewing aging as adaptation sheds light on resilience, well-being, and emotional distress across adulthood.

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