Aging in culture

Gerontologist. 2013 Jun;53(3):369-77. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnt024. Epub 2013 Apr 12.

Abstract

This article reviews the empirical studies that test socioemotional aging across cultures. The review focuses on comparisons between Western (mostly North Americans and Germans) and Eastern cultures (mostly Chinese) in areas including age-related personality, social relationships, and cognition. Based on the review, I argue that aging is a meaning-making process. Individuals from each cultural context internalize cultural values with age. These internalized cultural values become goals that guide adult development. When individuals from different cultures each pursue their own goals with age, cultural differences in socioemotional aging occur.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / ethnology*
  • Aging / psychology
  • Asian People / psychology*
  • Cognition
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison*
  • Culture*
  • Emotions
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Personality
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • White People / psychology*