AGEING WELL: STUDIES OF ITS GLOBAL AND MULTIDOMAIN AND CONSTRUCT AMONG MULTIETHNIC SINGAPOREAN SENIORS GWEE XINYI (BACHELOR OF ARTS (HONOURS) IN PSYCHOLOGY), UWA A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE 2013 DECLARATION I hereby declare that this thesis is my original work and it has been written by me in its entirety I have duly acknowledged all the sources of information which have been used in the thesis This thesis has also not been submitted for any degree in any university previously _ Gwee Xinyi 15 August 2013 I ACKNOWLEDGEMNT I would like to express my utmost gratitude to my supervisor, Associate Professor Ng Tze Pin, for his guidance and patience His expertise, encouragement and invaluable advice made the completion of this research thesis a possibility I also wish to express my sincere thanks to: my Thesis Advisory committee members, Dr Jonathan Marshall and Dr Philip Yap; all team members of the Gerontology Research Programme as well as the Department of Psychological Medicine, NUS, for all the helps and supports for my study and research throughout my candidature In particular, I would like to thank Dr Rajeev Kumar and Professor Kua Ee Heok for their generosity and support in allowing me to use the Singapore Study of Successful Ageing as part of my research thesis I would like to gratefully acknowledge the social service centers, senior activity centers and all participants for their kind support and participation in this study Without their kind contribution and understanding, the research of this thesis would not be possible Last but not least, I would like to acknowledge all the funding bodies as well as National University of Singapore for awarding me the Research Scholarship The studies were supported by research grant funding from the Biomedical Research Council, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR) (No 03/1/21/17/214), National University of Singapore Academic Research Fund, and Lee Foundation II CONTENTS PAGE DECLARATION PAGE I ACKNOWLEDGEMENT II ABSTRACT IX LIST OF TABLES XI LIST OF FIGURES XIII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS XIV LIST OF PUBLICATIONS XVI LIST OF APPENDICES XVII CHAPTER INTRODUCTION 1.1 Fast ageing population and its impact 1.2 Singapore and successful ageing 1.3 History on the construct of successful ageing 1.4 Multidimensional construct of successful ageing 1.5 Global construct of successful ageing 1.6 Measurement: Multidimensional construct of successful ageing 1.7 Measurement: Global construct of successful ageing 1.8 Ethnic and cultural dimensions in successful ageing 1.9 Overall objective and hypothesis of the thesis 10  1.9.1 Objective and hypothesis: Study I 12  1.9.2 Objective and hypothesis: Study II 14  1.9.3 Objective and hypothesis: Study III 16  1.9.4 Objective and hypothesis: Study IV 17 CHAPTER LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Biomedical models and successful ageing 19  2.1.1 Physical activity and successful ageing 20  2.1.2 Health behaviours and successful ageing 21  2.1.3 Cognitive functioning and successful ageing 21 III CONTENTS PAGE 2.2 Social functioning models and successful ageing 22  2.2.1 Theories underlying social functioning and successful 22 ageing  2.2.1.1 Continuity theory 22  2.2.2 Physical, social, productive activities and successful 23 ageing  2.2.3 Social support / functioning and successful ageing 2.3 Psychological models and successful ageing  2.3.1 Theories underlying psychological coping and 24 25 26 successful ageing  2.3.1.1 Theory of selective optimization with compensation 26 (SOC)  2.3.1.2 Stress process theory 27  2.3.2 Psychological adaptation / coping and successful 28 ageing  2.3.3 Psychological resilience and successful ageing 2.4 Religiosity / spirituality and successful ageing  2.4.1 Mechanisms underlying religiosity/ spirituality and 29 29 30 successful ageing  2.4.1.1 Association between religiosity/ spirituality and 30 positive health behaviours or practices  2.4.1.2 Association between religion and social integration 31 or support  2.4.1.3 Association between religion and comfort 32  2.4.2 Evidence: religiosity / spirituality and successful 34 ageing 2.5 Predictors of successful ageing 35 2.6 Multidimensional models of successful ageing: review 36 2.7 Prevalence of successful ageing: self-rated and objectively 39 measured using researcher-defined criteria IV CONTENTS PAGE 2.8 Other outcome measures of successful ageing 42  2.8.1 Life satisfaction and successful ageing 42  2.8.2 Quality of life and successful ageing 42 2.9 Ethnic and cultural dimensions in successful ageing 43 CHAPTER METHODS 3.1 METHOD: Study I 48  3.1.1 Research design 48  3.1.2 Population and sample 49  3.1.3 Measurements 49  3.1.3.1 Assessment of multidimensional model of successful 49 ageing  3.1.3.2 Assessment of physical health and functional well- 50 being dimensions  3.1.3.3 Assessment of cognitive function and emotional 51 well-being dimension  3.1.3.4 Assessment of social functioning and active 52 engagement in activities dimension  3.1.3.5 Assessment of life satisfaction dimension 52  3.1.3.6 Assessment of spirituality 53  3.1.3.7 Assessment of social network and support 53  3.1.3.8 Assessment of health behaviours 53  3.1.3.9 Assessment of health status 54  3.1.3.10 Assessment of health-care use 54  3.1.3.11 Assessment of nutritional risk status- Nutrition 54 Screening Initiative (NSI)  3.1.3.12 Assessment of Body Mass Index (BMI) 55  3.1.3.13 Assessment of Balance and gait 55 V CONTENTS PAGE  3.1.3.14 Assessment of hearing and visual impairment 56  3.1.3.15 Assessment of quality of life 56  3.1.3.16 Assessment of socio-demographic background 56  3.1.4 Data Analyses 56 3.2 METHOD: Study II 59  3.2.1 Research design 60  3.2.2 Population and sample 60  3.2.3 Measurements 61  3.2.3.1 Assessment of self-rated single-item scale of global 62 successful aging  3.2.3.2 Assessment of dimensional measures of successful 62 ageing  3.2.3.3 Dimension of successful ageing model: Assessment 63 of physical health and function component  3.2.3.4 Dimension of successful ageing model: Assessment 64 of mental / cognitive well-being component  3.2.3.5 Dimension of successful ageing model: Assessment 64 of social engagement component  3.2.3.6 Dimension of successful ageing model: Assessment 65 of psychological well-being component  3.2.3.7 Dimension of successful ageing model: Assessment 66 of spirituality and religiosity component  3.2.3.8 Dimension of successful ageing model: Assessment 67 of quality of life  3.2.3.9 Dimension of successful ageing model: Assessment 67 of life satisfaction  3.2.3.10 Assessment of socio-demographic background 68  3.2.4 Data analyses 68 3.3 METHOD: Study III  70 3.3.1 Research design; population and sample VI 70 CONTENTS PAGE  3.3.2 Measurements 70  3.3.2.1 Assessment of self-rated global successful aging 71  3.3.2.2 Assessment of ageing perceptions 71  3.3.2.3 Assessment of mortality salience and religiosity / 72 spirituality  3.3.2.4 Assessment of self-reported health status 73  3.3.2.5 Assessment on life satisfaction 74  3.3.2.6 Assessment of views on important successful ageing 74 factors  3.3.2.7 Assessment of socio-demographic background 75  3.3.3 Data analyses 75 3.4 METHOD: Study IV 76  3.4.1 Research design 76  3.4.2 Population and sample 77  3.4.3 Measurements 78  3.4.4 Data collection procedure 78  3.4.5 Data analyses 82 CHAPTER RESULTS & DISCUSSION: STUDY I 4.1 Results 88 4.2 Discussion 98 CHAPTER RESULTS & DISCUSSION: STUDY II 5.1 Results 103 5.2 Discussion 114 CHAPTER RESULTS & DISCUSSION: STUDY III 6.1 Results 119 6.2 Discussion 134 VII CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER RESULTS & DISCUSSION: STUDY IV 7.1 Results 140 7.2 Discussion 161 CHAPTER SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION Summary 169 Conclusion 173 Strengths and Limitations 174 Implications of Findings 176 Recommendation and Future Studies 178 References 180 Appendix 202 Appendix 212 Appendix 234 Appendix 268 Appendix 271 Appendix 275 Appendix 276 Appendix 277 VIII ABSTRACT Background: There is lack of research examining the construct and measurement of successful ageing among Singaporean older adults It is important to understand successful ageing within socio-cultural context as it is influenced by environmental factors Objectives: To explore multidimensional and global constructs of successful ageing among Singaporean Chinese, Malay and Indian older adults aged 65 and above We first evaluated the validity of a broad multidimensional model of successful ageing (study I) Next, the validity and reliability of a self-rated single-item scale of global successful ageing was examined (study II) Gender and ethnic-based differences in subjective ratings on the self-rated single-item scale of global successful ageing and in relation to variables associated with successful ageing was investigated in study III Study IV further explored the subjective perceptions of successful ageing Methods: Four studies were reported in this thesis In study I, multidimensional model of successful ageing (physical health and wellfunctioning; cognitive and emotional well-functioning; higher social functioning and active life engagement and high life satisfaction) was examined using cross-sectional (N=1281) and longitudinal (N=865) secondary data from Chinese participants in the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study In study II, cross-sectional analyses were performed on 489 participants from Singapore Study of Successful Ageing (SSOSA) The self-rated single-item scale of global successful ageing was analysed for its relationship to dimensional models of successful ageing (physical health and function; mental well-being; social functioning; psychological and spirituality), including outcome measures (life satisfaction and quality of life) Reliability of the scale was assessed with 33 participants Study III used SSOSA data from 495 participants to explore gender and ethnic-based differences in subjective ratings on the self-rated single-item scale of global successful ageing and in relation to ageing perceptions, mortality salience/spirituality, health status, and life satisfaction Study IV explored successful ageing in focus groups of 46 participants using qualitative research methodology IX 263 264 265 266 267 Appendix Demographic questionnaire for focus group study 268 269 270 Appendix Protocol guide with probe questions for focus group study 271 272 273 274 Appendix SLAS-I Project IRB Approval 275 Appendix SSOSA Project IRB Approval 276 Appendix Focus Group Project IRB Approval 277 ... 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