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Social Cognition and Lifespan Development

• Ageing well in older couples
• Resilience to stress in adulthood
• Social interactions and social engagement over the lifespan

 

Ageing well in older couples

The Ageing Well Together study includes a sample of over 100 couples aged 55+. This study will investigate social-cognitive characteristics of ageing well, and will provide new insights into the importance of social context for promoting health, well-being and social engagement in later life. 

For more information, see Ageing Well Together.

 

Resilience to stress in adulthood

Theories of lifespan development indicate that the importance of different social and psychological resources for promoting well-being will vary over the adult lifespan. Researchers in the ARU are using PATH data to investigate the different extents to which protective factors buffer against the negative effects of life stressors on psychological well-being in young, midlife and older adults. 

 

Social interactions and social engagement over the lifespan

Changes in the nature of social interactions over the life course, and the implications of different social relationships for well-being provide an additional focus for ARU researchers. Dr Windsor has also focused on issues related to social engagement and productivity in older adulthood, including a recent study of the relationship between volunteer activity and well-being.

 

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
Results from the PATH Through Life project indicate that moderate levels of volunteer activity relate to high levels of life satisfaction. However an intensive commitment to volunteer work during retirement could have adverse implications for psychological well-being.1

 

ARU staff working on Social Cognition and Lifespan Development

• Dr Tim Windsor
• Dr Peter Butterworth
• Associate Professor Kaarin Anstey

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References

1. Windsor, T. D., Anstey, K. J., & Rodgers, B. (accepted July 11, 2007). Volunteering and the psychological wellbeing among young-old adults: How much is too much? The Gerontologist.

 

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