Testing a model of biopsychosocial successful aging based on socioemotional selectivity theory in the second half of life

OBJECTIVES: We first tested a successful aging model, which included biomedical and psychosocial indicators. Next, we tested the assumptions on the social network characteristics of the socioemotional selectivity theory in a model where the outcome variable is successful aging. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The study was carried out in municipal centers and nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 478 adults (Mean age = 72.11, SD = 10.43) were enrolled. MEASUREMENTS: Psychological Well-being Scale, Life Satisfaction Scale, Future Time Perspective, Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living Scale, Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, and Mini-Mental State Examination Test were completed. RESULTS: The structural equation modeling analyses indicated that higher social satisfaction mediated the association of the future time perspective with successful aging. Furthermore, there was another significant indirect sequential path from the future time perspective to successful aging. The path was first via the number of close social partners and second, social satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of social satisfaction in the process of successful aging and provide novel evidence that the socioemotional selectivity theory can be considered as a biopsychosocial model of successful aging in future studies.