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Meaning of home attenuates the relationship between functional limitations and active aging

Slaug, Björn LU orcid ; Zingmark, Magnus LU orcid ; Granbom, Marianne LU orcid ; Björk, Jonas LU ; Rantanen, Taina ; Schmidt, Steven M. LU orcid and Iwarsson, Susanne LU (2024) In Aging clinical and experimental research 36(1).
Abstract

Background and aims: Active aging is the process through which people strive to maintain wellbeing when growing old. Addressing the lack of research on active aging in the context of housing, the aim was to describe active aging among people aged 55 and older considering relocation and investigate whether perceived housing moderates the relationship between functional limitations and active aging. Methods: We utilized cross-sectional data from a sub-sample (N = 820; mean age = 69.7; 54% women) of the Prospective RELOC-AGE. Functional limitations were reported using 10 dichotomous questions. Active aging was assessed with the University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging Scale (UJACAS; 17 items, self-rated for four perspectives). Perceived... (More)

Background and aims: Active aging is the process through which people strive to maintain wellbeing when growing old. Addressing the lack of research on active aging in the context of housing, the aim was to describe active aging among people aged 55 and older considering relocation and investigate whether perceived housing moderates the relationship between functional limitations and active aging. Methods: We utilized cross-sectional data from a sub-sample (N = 820; mean age = 69.7; 54% women) of the Prospective RELOC-AGE. Functional limitations were reported using 10 dichotomous questions. Active aging was assessed with the University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging Scale (UJACAS; 17 items, self-rated for four perspectives). Perceived housing was self-rated with four usability questions and meaning of home (MOH; 28 items). Cross-sectional associations and interactions were analysed using linear regression models, adjusting for gender and educational level. Results: Each functional limitation decreased the active aging score by almost five points (p < 0.001). Usability did not moderate that relationship while MOH significantly attenuated the association between functional limitations and active aging (p = 0.039). Those with high MOH had two points less decrease in active aging score compared to those with low MOH. Discussion and conclusions: Having a home with more personal meaning attached to it seems to provide more ability and opportunity for meaningful activities, thus supporting active aging despite functional limitations. This sheds new light on the known association between MOH and different aspects of wellbeing in old age and has relevance for theory development, housing policies and housing counselling targeting younger older adults.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Home, Housing choices, Moving, Prospective study, Residential choices
in
Aging clinical and experimental research
volume
36
issue
1
article number
159
publisher
Kurtis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85200234866
  • pmid:39088106
ISSN
1594-0667
DOI
10.1007/s40520-024-02810-x
project
RELOC-AGE: How do housing choices and relocation matter for active and healthy ageing?
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.
id
31fc587f-023e-45ba-ad47-6c13e6289b8d
date added to LUP
2024-08-09 11:59:41
date last changed
2024-08-09 13:51:10
@article{31fc587f-023e-45ba-ad47-6c13e6289b8d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background and aims: Active aging is the process through which people strive to maintain wellbeing when growing old. Addressing the lack of research on active aging in the context of housing, the aim was to describe active aging among people aged 55 and older considering relocation and investigate whether perceived housing moderates the relationship between functional limitations and active aging. Methods: We utilized cross-sectional data from a sub-sample (N = 820; mean age = 69.7; 54% women) of the Prospective RELOC-AGE. Functional limitations were reported using 10 dichotomous questions. Active aging was assessed with the University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging Scale (UJACAS; 17 items, self-rated for four perspectives). Perceived housing was self-rated with four usability questions and meaning of home (MOH; 28 items). Cross-sectional associations and interactions were analysed using linear regression models, adjusting for gender and educational level. Results: Each functional limitation decreased the active aging score by almost five points (p &lt; 0.001). Usability did not moderate that relationship while MOH significantly attenuated the association between functional limitations and active aging (p = 0.039). Those with high MOH had two points less decrease in active aging score compared to those with low MOH. Discussion and conclusions: Having a home with more personal meaning attached to it seems to provide more ability and opportunity for meaningful activities, thus supporting active aging despite functional limitations. This sheds new light on the known association between MOH and different aspects of wellbeing in old age and has relevance for theory development, housing policies and housing counselling targeting younger older adults.</p>}},
  author       = {{Slaug, Björn and Zingmark, Magnus and Granbom, Marianne and Björk, Jonas and Rantanen, Taina and Schmidt, Steven M. and Iwarsson, Susanne}},
  issn         = {{1594-0667}},
  keywords     = {{Home; Housing choices; Moving; Prospective study; Residential choices}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Kurtis}},
  series       = {{Aging clinical and experimental research}},
  title        = {{Meaning of home attenuates the relationship between functional limitations and active aging}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40520-024-02810-x}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s40520-024-02810-x}},
  volume       = {{36}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}