Page 121 - IJPS-11-1

International Journal of
Population Studies Developing individual active aging measurement tool

reporting; thus, subjective perception may influence the Mortelmans, 2011; Van Dyk, 2014), whereas activities
results. Nevertheless, in future research, validity could be not linked to middle-aged people usually result in
tested by comparing it to objectively measured equivalent stigmatization (Venn & Arber, 2011). Another source
variables, such as the specification of social networks in the of critical thinking is that the lifestyle promoted in the
case of perceived social support. Finally, by including more current discourse of active aging is easy to follow by people
antecedents or predictor variables with long-term effects who can afford it, who have the physical or mental ability
and covering a multilevel model (Fernández-Ballesteros, to do so, and who can participate in the institutions where
2008), more complete information can be provided. Future it is promoted (Biggs, 2001; Bowling, 2005; Hasmanová,
research could take these considerations into account. This 2011). It means that this rhetoric may become coercive, as
study, however, was performed to develop an empirically the social images promoted are being interiorized by older
supported individual measurement instrument for active people (Foster & Walker, 2015; Katz, 2000; Townsend et al.,
aging based on a broad and inclusive individual concept 2006), with high expectations placed on them (Boudiny,
and the theory of active aging, which integrates the 2013). Those expectations can be assumed as a challenge or
different approaches addressing this concept. The final aim a threat depending on personal circumstances in terms of
was to complement the population perspective of active health, educational level, or income (Pavlova & Silbereisen,
aging by focusing on individual variables that are likely to 2012). In addition, this paradigm is not fully prepared
be modified by individual-level interventions. to incorporate the notion of decline (Foster & Walker,
2015; Moulaert & Paris, 2013), and it ignores the barriers
Based on the results hereby presented, the next steps of certain social groups to meet the ideals of older ages
to promote active aging in our region could be done (Hasmanová, 2011). Thus, active aging may be presented
simultaneously from a double perspective, both at the as unattainable for a large group of people who are old
micro level, focused on older people, and at the meso- and or who live with a disability and cannot join active aging
macrolevels, related to neighborhoods and communities, as it is being promoted (Holstein & Minkler, 2003). This
public policies, and institutional environments (Sidorenko situation results in subtle or overt social discrimination
& Zaidi, 2013). A focus on enhancing health and or exclusion of old-old people, as well as vulnerable,
participation should be expanded, always according to fragile, and dependent people who do not meet the
older adults’ preferences, and adapting to the environment criteria in terms of health, independence, productivity,
and contextual elements while maximizing individual and activity (Boudiny, 2013; Ranzijn, 2010; Van Dyk,
conditions. For this, the coordination of health and 2014). For those reasons, policies and programs should
social measures, education, employment, economy, increase the opportunities to remain active, adapting
social security, living arrangements, transport, and urban them when necessary, such as in the case of dependent
and rural development is crucial (Lassen & Moreira, people (Boudiny, 2013; WHO, 2002). This issue is
2014; Walker & Maltby, 2012; WHO, 2002). In addition, also related to how active aging has been presented in
the benefits of the active aging process need to be more practice, narrower than the theorical conceptualization
disseminated, enhancing the active participation of older (Boudiny, 2013; Foster & Walker, 2015). Unless changes
people in society and in decisions that have an impact are made to include new alternative ways to age actively,
on their lives. More programs promoting active aging it will result in a new categorization of older ages as
components should be built and assessed to prove their being narrow, oppressive, excluding, and normative,
efficacy on active aging during the course of life (Boudiny, with an excessive idealization of older ages (Foster &
2013; Fernández-Ballesteros et al., 2004). However, it is Walker, 2015; Holstein & Minkler, 2007). Thus, the
necessary to prevent this discourse from transmitting a same mistakes from active theory (Boudiny, 2013) and
compulsory strategy as well as unique self-responsibility to successful aging (Pruchno et al., 2010; Strawbridge et al.,
individuals. In these cases, negative consequences would 2002) could be made. Future research on this concept
be produced, such as personal discomfort, blaming, and may evolve toward meaningful (active) aging, focusing
the oppression of older people, stepping back to narrower more on what is meaningful for aging people and linking
concepts such as successful aging or productive aging this paradigm of activity to what is relevant and generates
(Boudiny, 2013; Hasmanová, 2011; Ranzijn, 2010). subjective well-being for older adults.
In addition, it is necessary to be aware that some
critiques about active aging point out that the activities 5. Conclusions
and values promoted by policy and research are mainly In this study, a tool that can assess active aging in an integral,
associated with first stage of old age (the young-old) quantitative, and continuous way is tested and shared. Due
or functionally independent old people (Boudiny & to its operationalization, people who otherwise could not

Volume 11 Issue 1 (2025) 115 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.428