Mindful Sustainable Aging: Advancing a Comprehensive Approach to the Challenges and Opportunities of Old Age

This article introduces a new concept called mindful sustainable aging (MSA), which uses mindfulness practices to support physical, mental, social, and existential dimensions of old age. The authors compare MSA with four influential psychosocial theories in gerontology: activity theory, disengagement theory, successful aging theory, and gerotranscendence theory. They argue that MSA offers a more holistic framework that addresses existential meaning, which other theories may overlook. The article also reviews research on how mindfulness can help manage, diminish, or improve serious physical conditions common among older people. Throughout, the authors emphasize mindfulness's potential to help older adults find spiritual and existential meaning.

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Abstract

The primary aim of this article is to present a new concept called mindful sustainable aging (MSA), which is informed by mindfulness practices that support the physical, the mental, and especially, the social and the existential dimensions of old life. The concept of MSA is discussed and compared with four influential psychosocial theories in the field of gerontology, i.e., activity theory, disengagement theory, successful aging theory and gerotranscendence theory. The article ends with reviewing research on how mindfulness practice can help to manage, diminish and/or improve a number of serious physical conditions that are common among older people. The potential of mindfulness when it comes to facilitating for older adults in their quest for spiritual and existential meaning is discussed extensively throughout the article.