Disentangling the Concept of Well-Being in Very Old Age Using Rodgers' Evolutionary Concept Analysis

Well-being has received increasing attention from researchers and policymakers, and its promotion could be considered pivotal to handle the challenges of aging populations. However, many different well-being concepts have been used inconsistently, and it remains unclear what the concept of well-being refers to among the oldest segments of the population. Hence, there is a need for a more cohesive understanding of the meaning of the concept in this particular context. The aim of this study was to review the scientific literature to examine the conceptualization of well-being in very old age. Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis was applied as a guiding framework. A search through scientific databases generated a sample of 568 unique articles published between 2009 and 2019, of which 49 were included in the final analysis. Four main attributes of well-being in very old age were identified: multifaceted; intertwined with health and quality of life; ability to adapt; and part of successful aging. Furthermore, the antecedents and consequences of well-being in very old age, as well as related concepts, were summarized and discussed. The results revealed that there was a transition between general aspects of well-being and specific aspects of very old age. Particularly adaptation appears to be a crucial part of well-being in very old age, and methods of supporting the ability to adapt should therefore be tested and implemented.

Automated summary

Well-being has gained attention from researchers and policymakers, but its concept remains unclear among the oldest populations. This study reviewed scientific literature to understand the attributes, antecedents, and consequences of well-being in very old age, highlighting the importance of adaptability for well-being.