A theoretical perspective on aging attributions and expectations: Its role in health behaviors and outcomes

摘要

Literature tells how people experience and perceive their own aging may affect future health outcomes and health behaviors. There are also several sources by which these expectations are formed and reshaped as one ages. The study aimed to develop a theory on aging expectations and attribution through establishing axioms and constructing propositions using a deductive theory generation approach. The evolved theory suggests that a person’s expectation regarding aging would influence health behaviors and subsequently a person’s overall well-being. The theory further suggests that individual experiences during one’s lifetime influence how these personal aging expectations are constructed. This has major implications for health promotion programs and public health policies involving older adult populations.