Introduction
According to the activity theory of aging (also referred to as the implicit theory of aging, normal theory of aging, and lay theory of aging), there is a positive relationship between a person's level of activity and life satisfaction, which in turn increases how positively a person views himself or herself (self‐concept) and improves adjustment in later life. Although these two theories are not mutually exclusive, activity theory is often contrasted with disengagement theory. Proposed by Cummings and Henry in 1961, disengagement theory describes social disengagement as an adaptive response to aging in which elderly persons relinquish roles while maintaining a sense of self‐worth. This voluntary surrender of activities is thought to permit the orderly transfer of power from older to younger generations and is beneficial for both the aging individual and society.
Activity theory was introduced by Havighurst and colleagues in 1961 and is rooted in symbolic interactionist...
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Suggested Readings
Hooyman NR, Kiyak HA (1999) Social gerontology: a multidisciplinary perspective, 5th ed. Allyn & Bacon, Boston, MA
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Lemon BW, Bengtson VL, Peterson JA (1972) An exploration of theactivity theory of aging: activity types and life satisfaction among in‐movers to a retirement community. J Gerontol 27(4):511–523
Maddox GL (1987) The encyclopedia of aging. Springer, New York
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Diggs, J. (2008). Activity Theory of Aging. In: Loue, S.J., Sajatovic, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Aging and Public Health. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-33754-8_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-33754-8_9
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