Table B. Qualitative and review studies of successful aging.
| No. | Author name & year of study | Type of study | Population | Country | Dimensions of successful aging |
| 1 | Chen(2015) | Constant comparative method | 14 older female(60+) | Taiwan | Being healthy, having no financial worries, maintaining connections with family and friends, contributing to society, and desiring a good death, not longevity |
| 2 | Zolnikov(2015) | Basic review | - | USA | Avoid disease and disability, optimal health activities, access to healthcare, healthy environment, engagement with life, high physical and cognitive function |
| 3 | Sato-Komata et al(2015) | Grounded theory | 15(85+) | Japan | Conflict over declining functions(sensation of loss of physical and cognitive function, fear of one’s inability to predict future decline, acceptance or denial of health condition, need to feel self-assured of one’s health condition, realisation of having aged compared to earlier years); relationship with the aging body(personal effort to maintain one’s physical condition, essential medical treatment), reflection on self (gratitude, outlook toward living a long life, distinct views on objects, desiring few objects and goals); reflection on daily life(mundaneness of everyday life, economic factors of daily life, acceptance of daily life, objects to look forward); reflection on society(acknowledgment of the value of one’s relationships, wish to be useful to society, interest in modern society); reflection on life and preparation for death(Reminiscence of life, Preparations for the future, ideal way of living, ideal way of dying) |
| 4 | Nosraty et al(2015) | Thematic analysis | 45(90+) | Finland | Death(not being afraid of death, an easy death, a nice death, a painless death), a balanced and harmonious life(living in harmony, a rich life, a balanced life, a normal life, a happy life, living in peace), independence(physical independence, financial independence, autonomy and decision-making and self-mastery), life circumstances(Environment(a nice home and not being institutionalized), a sense of security, freedom from responsibilities, no transitions of care, not being alone) physical(Mobility: Ability to walk, good mobility, (good function activities: doing exercise and being physically active, health: good physical condition, not smoking, not having pain), cognitive and psychological(Mental health, absence of dementia, feeling good (mentally), absence of depression or cognitive problems, no painful memories, happiness and joy, preserving one's own personality, accepting reality, self-acceptance and self-contentment and focusing on the present, accepting others, a positive outlook and a positive attitude, tolerance, coping and adaptation and adjustment, maintaining an interest, humility, self-esteem, self-respect, satisfaction (with life), a calm personality, no arguments and conflict, being open and honest, peace of mind, not feeling loneliness, keeping up to date, learning new things and having a good memory) social(social network: family, friends, children, grandchildren, good neighbours, being surrounded by people and having company, having a partner and a good marriage, not being alone), Social roles(doing things for the family(taking care of grandchildren or a partner), helping others, being a member of an organization, having social interactions and relationships with others), recreation and entertainment(going out with others, having hobbies, keeping going, listening to music, visiting family) |
| 5 | Jopp et al (2015) | Qualitative approach | 306(16+) and 91(60+) | USA and Germany | Health(health in general, health behaviour, physical fitness, mental health), social resources(care-related aspects, have social, feeling of social embeddedness/belonging resources, Social engagement/participation), activities/interests(activity without further specification, cognitive activities, work/job-related activities, sports, hobbies travel, culture/creativity, volunteering/unpaid engagement) virtues/attitudes/beliefs(positive attitude about life, acceptance, openness/curiosity, self-esteem, self-efficacy, be good to self, other psychological characteristics), well-being(well-being/satisfaction/happiness/fulfilment, enjoying life) life management/ coping(setting goals/having plans/planning for the future, realizing goals/working on tasks/starting new things, coping active or passive), financial resources(having money/wealth, financial security, retirement fund) aging/age as a topic(money/wealth not needed, acceptance of age/aging/death/dying, becoming old, thinking about/anticipating age/aging/ death/dying, remaining young, ignoring age/aging/death/dying) independence(independent without further, specification, autonomy, physical independence/mobility), meaning in life(religion, a life worth living) growth/maturation, respect/status, respect/status, education/knowledge(education, knowledge about life in general) microenvironment(environment (not further specified or Social, positive role models, family upbringing) society/macro environment (social policy (health/work/education retirement policy), policy/society (not further specified), negative aging stereotypes, newspaper/TV |
| 6 | Javadi et al(2015) | Qualitative content analysis | 16 women older adults(60+) | Iran | Availability of support system(supportive policies, culture, welfare facilities, family background and relationships, social interaction), state of health, personal capabilities(gained experiences, efficacy), personality characteristics(attitude, personal beliefs, temperament), lifestyle(life management, healthy lifestyle) |
| 7 | Troutman(2014) | Secondary qualitative analysis | 311 older adults (60+) | USA | Positive perspective and coping, active independence, health, relationships with people, freedom, beneficial contribution, relationship with God, comfort resources |
| 8 | Cosco et al(2014) | Systematic review |
84 quantitative studies and 26 qualitative studies |
UK | Biomedical(physical functioning/disability, cognitive functioning/disability, affective status, presence/probability of disease, mental health, longevity); psychosocial( personal resources, engagement, life satisfaction/well-being, support system, independence/ autonomy); extrinsic factors(environment/finances) |
| 9 | Topaz et al(2014) | Literature review | USA | Meaning purpose in life: gerotranscendence(decreased death anxiety, meaningful activities, self-acceptance, relationships, solitude, wisdom) spirituality(spiritual Perspective, religiosity) intrapsychic factors(creativity, low level), negative affectivity, personal control), functional performance mechanisms(health promotion activities, physical health, physical mobility) | |
| 10 | Nguyen & Seal 2014 | Qualitative approach | 44 elders | USA | Chinese elders emphasized physical health and mobility, mental health, positive attitudes, shedding responsibilities, positive family relationships, financial stability, social engagement, religious faith, and accomplishments and volunteer work. Hmong elders emphasized physical health and mobility, mental health, harmonious relationships, positive family relationships, tangible family support, financial stability, social engagement, and religious faith |
| 11 | Cosco et al (2014) | Systematic review | 26 qualitative article | UK | Biomedical(cognitive and mental, psychological health and functioning, health maintenance behavior, health and longevity); external factors(environmental factors, finance), psychosocial (engagement, perspective, self-awareness, independence, acceptance, quality of life, prevention and remediation, community, spirituality, social roles, maintenance, adjustment) |
| 12 | McCarthy and Bockweg(2013) | Concept analysis | - | USA | Transcendence(relationships, creativity, introspection, contemplation, and spirituality) |
| 13 | Horder et al(2013) | Qualitative content analysis | 24 community-dwelling older (77-90 years old) | Sweden | Themes: Self-respect through ability to keep fear of frailty at a distance |
| 14 | Cherry et al (2013) | Grounded theory | 83 elders (60-94 years old) | USA | maintaining physical, mental, and relational well-being; living a healthy life, and living a faithful life |
| 15 | Troutman et al (2013) | Focus group | - | USA | Connecting and relating (spirituality, friends and social life and spouse.), temporality (impressions of the past, family and history, and future generation), perception and interpretation (mental and cognitive and adjusting), activity (mobility, independence, exercise, and nutrition). |
| 16 | Cosco et al(2013) | Systematic review | 103 Articles | UK | Physiological(physical function/disability, cognitive function, illness/disease presence, health status, longevity, mental health), well-being(affective status, life-satisfaction/well-being), engagement(active life/social engagement, support system), personal resources(personal resources, independence/autonomy), extrinsic factors(environment/finances) |
| 17 | Liang and Luo(2012) | Literature review | - | USA | Harmonious aging includes: individual health, balanced outlook, inter-relationship, dialectic discourse(between challenge and opportunities, disengagement and activity) |
| 18 | Craciun(2012) | Thematic analysis | 11 men and 11 women, aged 65 to 90 years old | Romania | Continuous learning process, planning for a future and accepting one’s past and present |
| 19 | Stordal et al(2012) | Literature review | - | Sweden | Biological and medical aspects(disease and disability, genetic factors, brain characteristics, other basic biological factors), psychological and social aspects(lifestyle, self-rated health status, and SAE), cognitive aspects(cognition in usual aging, cognitive stability, ) |
| 20 | Marina and Ionas(2012) | Literature review (without specified method) | - | Romania | satisfaction with life, self-acceptance, positive social, relationships, control over the own life, adaptation to life environment, sense of personal usefulness, personal development, social participation, subjective well-being |
| 21 | Lewis(2011) | Explanatory model(an inductive research) | 26 elders aged 61–93 years | Alaska | Emotional Well-Being, Community Engagement, Spirituality, Physical Health |
| 22 | Troutman et al (2011) | Grounded theory | 99 elders(65+) | Independence/ability, health, mindset, activity/services, family, spirituality | |
| 23 | Iwamasa & Iwasaki(2011) | Focus group | 77 elders | USA(Japonicas elderly) | Physical(health, exercise, activities, physical appearance, diet), psychological(positive affect and attitudes, maintenance of independence, willingness to change, openness to new experience, intrapersonal coping), social(social support/social network, recreation and entertainment, social learning, social roles), social roles(using one’s mind, education), spirituality(religion, internal peace, faith, altruistic behaviour, appreciation), financial(monetary value, financial security) |
| 24 | Reichstadt et al(2010) |
Qualitative approach(coding consensus, co-occurrence, and comparison) |
66 elders | USA | Self-acceptance and self-contentment(realistic self-appraisal, a review of one’s life, focusing on the present) engagement with life and self-growth(novel pursuits, giving to others, social interactions, positive attitude) |
| 25 | Ferri and Pruchno (2009) | Descriptive quantitative and qualitative | 53 older adults | USA | Activity/exercise, physical health, social relationships, and psychological/cognitive health |
| 26 | Young et al(2009) | Literature review(and test on 1438 women age 65+ in another study) | USA | Physiological(disease and impairment), psychological(emotional vitality), sociological(engaging with life and spirituality) | |
| 27 | Mortimer et al(2008) | Thematic analyses | 14 women aged(60-89) | Australia | Personal agency(adaptability, nature, health, life of the mind, finance, spiritual, and self-expression), social value(interpersonal, generativity, affiliations, value ),quality of life/quality of death(life quality, spirituality, death, autonomy, authenticity) |
| 28 | Rossen et al (2008) | Qualitative(Miles and Huberman’s method) | 31 older women | USA | Acceptance(physical change, relational change, environmental change),engagement(social, self-care), comportment(attributes toward life, demeanour toward others) |
| 29 | Kanning & Schlicht(2008) | Literature review | Germany | Bio-psycho-social model of SA with Subjective Well-being as a criterion of an SA process (Psychological need satisfaction, setting and pursuing personally valued goals, cognitive and emotional processes) | |
| 30 | Reichstadt and et al(2007) | Focus groups | 12 focus group(six individual per group) | USA | Health and wellness, attitude and adaptation, security and stability, engagement and stimulation |
| 31 | Nagaling (2007) | Qualitative approach | 32 older Indian adults(60-84 years old) and 10 informants | Singapore | Financial resources, religiosity, purpose in life, life satisfaction, engagement with life, Leisure activities, volunteer work, health status, intergenerational, transfers & relationships, social support networks |
| 32 | Bowling (2007) | Systematic review | 170 studies | UK | Social functioning(social engagement, social roles, participation and activity, social contacts and exchanges, and/or positive relationships with others), life satisfaction(zest, resolution, fortitude, relationships between desired and achieved goals, self-concept and mood, including happiness), psychological resource and medical(possession of the resources of personal growth, creativity, self-efficacy, autonomy, independence, effective coping strategies, sense of purpose, self-acceptance, and self-worth, coping and self-concept) |
| 33 |
Depp and Jeste(2006) |
Systematic review(quantitative articles) | 27 Articles | US | Disability/physical functioning(clinician-rated disability, no impairment in daily activities, no more than a little difficulty in lifting weights, climbing stairs, good physical function); Cognitive functioning( no cognitive impairment, no delayed recall, normal orientation, absence of history of memory problem, no depressed mood, generally happy, contented and unworried), Social/productive engagement(contact with friends and relatives, participating in outside social activities, social support, role variety, occupational status, paid employment, caring for child, cleaning house, helping activity); presence, illness(absence of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, emphysema, asthma, no smoking, hypertension, obesity, absence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Absence of coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Parkinson disease, number of health problems identified); longevity(living at age 85, survival to age 75); self-rated health(Good or excellent; Excellent to fair); personality(Extraversion, goal strength, Perceived control); environment/finances(financial security, Liking home environment, warm enough, no anxiety about intruders or going outside the home); self-rated successful aging(agreeing strongly to “I am aging successfully”, scoring 7–10 on a 1- to 10-point scale) |
| 34 | Bowling, and Dieppe(2005) | Systematic literature | 170 articles | UK | Theoretical definitions: life expectancy, life satisfaction and wellbeing (includes happiness and contentment), mental and psychological health, cognitive function, personal growth, learning new things, physical health and functioning, independent functioning, psychological characteristics and resources, including perceived autonomy, control, independence, adaptability, coping, self-esteem, positive outlook, goals, sense of self, social community, leisure activities, integration and participation, social networks, support, participation, activity |
| 35 | Knight and Ricciardelli(2003) | Content analysis | 60 older adults (ages of 70 and 101 years) | Australia | Health, Activity, Personal Growth, Happiness/ contentment, Relationships, Independence, Appreciation/ value of life, Longevity |
| 36 | Baltes and Baltes (1990,2003) |
Literature review (Test quantitatively among 244) |
- | Germany |
Selection(elective and loss-based concerns directionality of development including selection of alternative outcomes and goal structures) Optimization concerns(achieving desired outcomes (attaining higher levels of functioning)) Compensation concerns(activation or acquisition of new means for counteracting loss/decline in means that threatens the maintenance of a given level of functioning) |
| 37 | Crowther et al (2002) | Literature review | - | USA | Minimize risk and disability; engage in active life, maximize positive spirituality, maximize physical and mental ability |
| 38 | Flood(2002) | Concept analysis | - | USA | Life satisfaction, functional status, gerotranscendence, spirituality |
| 39 | Rowe and Kahn (1997) | Theory development | - | USA | Avoiding disease and disability, engagement with life, high cognitive and physical function |
| 40 | Ryff(1989( | Literature review | - | USA | Well-being (Self-Acceptance, Positive Relations with Others, Autonomy, Environmental Mastery, Purpose in Life, Personal Growth) |
| 41 | Havighurst(1961) | Literature review | - | USA | Life satisfaction(Zest Vs. apathy; resolution and fortitude; goodness of fit between desired and achieved goals; positive self-concept; mood tone) |