Table 3.

Characteristics of included studies

Author /year /country	Study name /design /data collection wave and year	Population / characteristics	Main outcome /how measured /prevalence	Predictors (health assets)	Findings
Andrews et al 2002 Australia31	Australian longitudinal study of ageing Cross-sectional analysis of a population-based sample aged 70+ years Baseline 1992	n=1403 Age range 70–85+ years Female=40%	Successful ageing Met criteria for tests on cognitive and physical functioning and physical performance −High functioning=36% −Intermediate functioning=27% −Low functioning=37%	Personal - Self-rated health - Importance of religion - Self-esteem - Morale - Perceived control Social - Social participation (household, service to others) - Social activity	Factors associated with higher vs lower functioning in logistic regression: - Excellent/good self-rated health - Higher morale - Higher levels of activity (domestic, household, service to others) Study quality—high
Arias-Merino 2012 Mexico34	Health, well-being, and ageing study Cross-sectional analysis of a multistage, proportional, randomised sample of persons aged 60+ years	n=3116 Mean age (SD) 72 (9) Female=63%	Successful ageing Met criteria for chronic disease, disability, physical and cognitive functioning and being active -Successful ageing=13%	Social - Marital status Economic - Education - Income	Predictors of successful ageing in logistic regression: - Being married - Higher education Study quality—high
Bell et al 2014 USA14	Hawaii lifespan study Longitudinal study of survivors from population-based 1965 Honolulu Heart Program Baseline 1991 FU 21 years to 2012	n=1292 Mean age (SD)=76 (3) All male	Healthy ageing Met criteria for physical and cognitive function and absence of clinical disease. −Healthy survivors=34% −Unhealthy survivors=43% Non-survivors=23%	Personal - Self-rated health Social - Marital status Economic - Education	Predictors of unhealthy vs healthy survival in logistic regression: - Fair or poor self-rated health -<12 years of education Study quality—high
Cernin et al 2011 USA15	Stress and Success in Ageing through Good Health and executive functioning Cross-sectional analysis of a convenience sample of older persons aged 59+ years 2004	n=67 Mean age=73 Females=82%	Successful ageing Met objective criteria for tests on physical performance, physical and cognitive function −Successful ageing=30%	Social - Social support Economic - Education	Factors associated with successful ageing in logistic regression: - Higher quality of education (reading score) Study quality— medium
Cha et al 2012 Korea20	Cross-sectional analysis of a convenience sample of persons aged 60+ years 2009	n=305 Mean age=71 Females=73%	Successful ageing Measured by physical, psychological and social functioning (range 19–95) −Successful ageing mean (SD)=64 (11)	Personal - Self-esteem - Self-efficacy - Interpersonal relationships - Self-achievement	Factors associated with successful ageing in multiple regression: Higher levels of - Self-esteem - Self-efficacy - Interpersonal relationships - Self-achievement Study quality—high
Chaves et al 2009 Brazil35	Cross-sectional analysis of a random sample of households with at least one person aged 60+ years 1996	n=345 Mean age (SD)=70 (7) Females=70%	Successful ageing Met criteria for health, physical, psychological and cognitive functioning. −Successful ageing=62% −Normal ageing=38%	Social - Marital status - Social network - Social support - Social activities Economic - Education - Income	Factors associated with successful ageing in logistic regression: - Having fewer living children - Having more confidants - Higher family income Study quality—high
Chou and Chi 2002 Hong Kong21	Cross-sectional analysis of a representative sample aged 60+ years 1995	n=1106 Age range 60–69=37% 70–79=45% 80+=18% Females=56%	Successful ageing Measured by physical, affective and cognitive functioning and productive involvement Successful ageing (0–4) met criteria for high function on −4 criteria=1% −3 criteria=8% −2 criteria=25% −1 criterion=33% −0 criterion=34%	Personal - Self-rated health - Life satisfaction - Stressful life events Social - Marital status - Social network - Social support Economic - Education - Income	Factors associated with successful ageing in multiple regression analysis: - Better self-rated health - Greater life satisfaction - More close relatives - Higher frequency of contact with friends - More years of education - Less financial strain Study quality —high
Formiga et al 2011 Spain30	Octabaix study Cross-sectional analysis of a longitudinal population-based sample of persons born in 1924 Baseline 2009	n=328 Age=85 Females=62%	Successful ageing Non-institutionalised who met criteria for physical and cognitive functioning -Successful ageing=49% -Non-successful ageing=51%	Personal - Quality of life Social - Marital status - Living arrangements - Social risk Economic - Education	Factors associated with successful ageing in bivariate analysis: - Higher quality of life - Being widowed - Lower social risk - Higher level of education Study quality—high
Formiga et al 2012 Spain29	Octabaix study Longitudinal population-based sample of persons born in 1924 Baseline 2009 FU 2 years	n=146 Age=87 Females=56%	Successful ageing Non-institutionalised who met criteria for physical and cognitive functioning. -Successful ageing at 2 year FU=62% -Non-successful ageing=38%	Personal - Quality of life Social - Marital status - Living arrangements - Social risk Economic - Education	Predictors of (continued) successful ageing in multiple regression: - Higher level of education Study quality—high
Gureje et al 2014 Nigeria36	Ibadan Study of Ageing Longitudinal study of representative sample aged 65+ years Baseline 2003 FU yearly 2007–2009	n=930 Mean age=79 Females=39%	Successful ageing Met criteria on physical and functional health and life satisfaction. Successful ageing=8%	Personal - Self-rated health Social - Social network - Social participation Economic - Education - Material possessions Environment - Place of residence	Predictors of successful ageing in multivariate analysis: - Having contact with friends - Participation in community activities Study quality—high
Hamid et al 2012 Malaysia22	Mental health and quality of life of older Malaysians Cross-sectional analysis of a national representative sample aged 60+ years 2004	n=2749 Age groups: 60–69=1408 70–79=1005 80+=329 Females=50%	Successful ageing Met criteria for physical and psychocognitive functioning and absence of major disease. -Successful ageing=14%	Social - Marital status Economic - Education - Income - Employment Environment - Place of residence	Factors associated with successful ageing in logistic regression: - Higher educational attainment - Higher household income Study quality—medium
Hodge et al 2013 Australia32	Melbourne collaborative study Longitudinal population-based study Baseline 1990–1994 Follow-up 2003–2007	n=5512 Age=70+ years Females=63%	Successful ageing Met criteria for physical and psychological functioning and survived to age 70 years, with absence of chronic disease -Successful ageing=22% -Usual ageing=79%	Social - Marital status, - Living arrangements - Social network - Social activity Economic - Socio-Economic Indexes For Areas (SEIFA) - Education	Predictors of successful ageing in multivariate logistic regression: - Being in the top SEIFA quintile Study quality—high
Jang et al 2009 Korea23	Cross-sectional analysis of a representative sample of residents aged 65 + years 2003	n=1825 Mean age (SD)=73 (6) Females=65%	Successful ageing Met criteria for physical, psychological and social functioning and subjective well-being and low level of chronic disease -Successful ageing=24%	Social - Marital status Economic - Education - Income - Material possessions	Factors associated with successful ageing in logistic regression: - Higher years of education - Higher personal income Study quality—medium
Li et al 2006 China24	Shanghai dementia survey Cross-sectional analysis of a random sample of community-dwellers aged 65+ years 2000–2001	n=1516 Mean age (SD)=73 (6) Females=53%	Successful ageing Met criteria on psychological and physical functioning, with no disabilities -Successful ageing=46% -Usual ageing=40% -Remainder excluded because of cognitive impairment	Personal - Life satisfaction - Life events Social - Marital status - Social support - Leisure activities Economic - Education - Economic status - Employment	Factors associated with successful ageing using logistic regression: - Greater life satisfaction - Being currently married - More leisure activities - Being satisfied with economic situation Study quality—high
Li and Zhang 2015 China25	Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey Longitudinal health survey of persons aged 80+ years Data analysis of three waves 2005, 2008 and 2012	n=4190 Age range (64–114) Mean age (SD) baseline: 78 (9) Females=54%	Health index Met criteria on physical and cognitive function, psychological well-being and subjective health Health Index range −9.69–2.86 Mean (SD)=0.58 (1.34)	Social Social support networks - Diverse - Friend-focussed - Family focussed - Restricted	Factors associated with better (higher) Health Index in linear regression: - Diverse network type Study quality—high
Meng and D’Arcy 2013 Canada18	Canadian community health survey: healthy ageing Cross-sectional analysis of a national sample of persons aged 45+ years 2008–2009	n=8154 Aged 65+ years	Successful ageing Measured by the absence of major disease and met criteria for cognitive and physical functioning and life engagement -Successful ageing=37%	Personal - Self-rated health - Life satisfaction Social - Marital status Economic - Education - Income Environment - Place of residence	Factors associated with successful ageing using logistic regression: - Better self-rated health - Greater life satisfaction - Being married Study quality—high
Ng et al 2014 Singapore26	Marine parade elderly needs survey Cross-sectional analysis of a stratified random sample of community dwelling adults aged 60+ years from a national database of dwellings 2011	n=2444 60–64 =807 65–74=1183 75–84=341 85+=113 Females=57%	Healthy ageing Met criteria on physical, mental and social health. -Health at risk=19% -Relatively healthy=81%	Economic - Education - Income - Employment - Housing type	Factors associated with Health at risk using logistic regression: - Higher level education - Employed Study quality—medium
Ng et al 2009 Singapore27	Singapore longitudinal ageing study Cross-sectional analysis of a population-based study of persons aged 55+ years 2003–2004	n=1281 Mean (SD)=72 (6) Females=60%	Successful ageing Met criteria for physical health and functioning, cognitive, emotional and social functioning and life satisfaction -Successful ageing=29% -Non-successful ageing=71%	Personal - Religious beliefs - Quality of life (QoL) Social - Marital status - Living arrangements - Social network - Social support - Social activity Economic - Education - Financial resources - Housing type	Factors associated with successful ageing in multivariate analysis: - Better scores on physical and mental well-being (QoL) - Having religious beliefs - More years of education - Better housing Study quality - high
Parslow et al 2011 Australia33	Survey of mental health and well-being Cross-sectional analysis of a population-based sample aged 60+ years 2007	n=2286 Mean age (SD)=71 (7) Females=51%	Successful ageing Met criteria for physical and mental health, life satisfaction, cognitive functioning (weighted scores ranged from 4.6 to 16.26) Successful ageing Mean (SD) weighted score=13 (2) -Highest decile=8% -Lowest decile=10%	Personal - Traumatic life events Social - Living arrangements - Social network - Social support Economic - Education	Factors associated with being highest decile compared with lowest decile of successful ageing - Fewer traumatic life events - More contact with friends - Being able to rely on, confide in family, friends - Less likely to live alone - Higher level of education Study quality – high
Sowa et al 2016 Europe28	Survey of health ageing and retirement in Europe (share) Longitudinal survey from 20 European countries of persons aged 50+ years Cross-sectional analysis of a subsample of data from six European countries in wave four (2010–2011)	Males n=5139 Females n=5909 Age groups Males 60–67=39% 68–79=47% 80+=15% Females 60–67=39% 68–79=43% 80+=18%	Healthy ageing Met criteria for self-assessed health, functional capabilities and meaning of life Healthy ageing - Males=47% - Females=41%	Social Psychosocial index incorporating: - Employment - Social participation - Leisure activities - Social network satisfaction - Life satisfaction Economic - Socioeconomic status Environmental - Geographical location in Europe	Factors associated with better health using logistic regression: Males and females - Being in Western or Southern Europe vs Central Europe - Higher level of education - Higher psychosocial index score Study quality - high
Stevens-Ratchford 2011 USA16	Cross-sectional analysis of convenience sample of community dwellers aged 55+ years	n=292 Mean age=72 Females=67%	Successful ageing Measured by the absence of disease and met criteria for cognitive and physical functioning and engagement with life Measured by successful ageing profile -Successful ageing mean (SD)=34 (6) (range 14–68)	Economic - Productive engagement	Successful ageing had weak to moderate positive correlations with: - Continuity of long-standing occupation - Meaning of long-standing occupation - Continuity of productive occupation - Meaning of productive occupation Study quality – medium
Vaillant and Mukamal 2001 USA17	Harvard study of adult development Longitudinal study of male adolescents (college students and core city youths) Baseline at age 50 years FU 15–25 years	College men n=237 Aged 75–80 years Core-city men n=332 Aged 65–70 years	Successful ageing Met criteria for objective and subjective physical and mental health, years of active life, life satisfaction and social support Successful ageing (happy-well) -College men (75-80)=26% -Core-city men (65-70)=29%	Personal - Coping mechanisms Social - Marital stability Economic - Education	Predictors of successful ageing (most vs least) using multivariate analysis: - Having mature coping defences - Stable marriage (core-city men) - More years of education (core-city men) Study quality - medium
White et al 2015 Canada19	Manitoba study of health and ageing Longitudinal study of community-based adults aged 65+ years Baseline 1991–1992 Follow-up 1996–1997	n=946 Mean age (SD) 77 (6) years Female=61%	Health ageing Met criteria for physical, cognitive, social and psychological health -Healthy ageing=38%	Economic - Education - Income - Occupation	Factors associated with healthy ageing using logistic regression: - Higher level of education - High level satisfaction with finances Study quality - high