Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Abraham, J. D.
Right arrow Articles by Hansson, R. O.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Abraham, J. D.
Right arrow Articles by Hansson, R. O.

Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, Vol 50, Issue 2 P94-103, Copyright © 1995 by The Gerontological Society of America

ARTICLES

Successful aging at work: an applied study of selection, optimization, and compensation through impression management

JD Abraham and RO Hansson
Department of Psychology, University of Tulsa, USA.

Although many abilities basic to human performance appear to decrease with age, research has shown that job performance does not generally show comparable declines. Baltes and Baltes (1990) have proposed a model of successful aging involving Selection, Optimization, and Compensation (SOC), that may help explain how individuals maintain important competencies despite age-related losses. In the present study, involving a total of 224 working adults ranging in age from 40 to 69 years, occupational measures of Selection, Optimization, and Compensation through impression management (Compensation-IM) were developed. The three measures were factorially distinct and reliable (Cronbach's alpha > .80). Moderated regression analyses indicated that: (1) the relationship between Selection and self-reported ability/performance maintenance increased with age (p < or = .05); and (2) the relationship between both Optimization and Compensation-IM and goal attainment (i.e., importance-weighted ability/performance maintenance) increased with age (p < or = .05). Results suggest that the SOC model of successful aging may be useful in explaining how older workers can maintain important job competencies. Correlational evidence also suggests, however, that characteristics of the job, workplace, and individual may mediate the initiation and effectiveness of SOC behaviors.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Gerontol. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci.Home page
C. M. de Frias, R. A. Dixon, and L. Backman
Use of Memory Compensation Strategies Is Related to Psychosocial and Health Indicators
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., January 1, 2003; 58(1): P12 - 22.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Gerontol. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci.Home page
A. M. Freund and P. B. Baltes
The Adaptiveness of Selection, Optimization, and Compensation as Strategies of Life Management: Evidence From a Preference Study on Proverbs
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., September 1, 2002; 57(5): P426 - 434.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Copyright © 1995 by The Gerontological Society of America.