The role of self-transcendence: A missing variable in the pursuit of successful aging?
Research in Gerontological Nursing 2013 DOI: 10.3928/19404921-20130508-01 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional exploratory study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 152 |
| Population | Older adults |
| Key findings | Self-transcendence, proactive coping, and control variables explained 50% of the variance in successful aging, but proactive coping alone was not a significant predictor. Self-transcendence was the only significant contributor, so the theory that both predict successful aging was not supported. |
Abstract
While successful aging is often defined as the absence of disease and disability or as life satisfaction, self-transcendence may also play an important role. The objective of this research was to test a nursing theory of successful aging proposing that transcendence and adaptation predict successful aging. In this cross-sectional exploratory study, a convenience sample of older adults ( N = 152) were surveyed about self-transcendence, proactive coping, and successful aging. Using hierarchical multiple regression, self-transcendence, proactive coping, and all control variables (i.e., sex, race, perceived health, place of residence) together explained 50% of the variance in successful aging ( p < 0.001). However, proactive coping alone was not a significant predictor of successful aging. Thus, this study did not support the theory that both self-transcendence and proactive coping predict successful aging. Self-transcendence was the only significant contributor to this multidimensional view of successful aging. Self-transcendence is an important variable in the pursuit of successful aging, which merits further investigation. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2013; 6(3):178–186.]