Robert Fettgather holds a BA in psychology from San Jose State University as well as Masters and Doctoral degrees. He works as an associate faculty at Mission College in Santa Clara, educating students in different areas of psychology. Robert Fettgather also holds a specialist credential in learning handicapped and community college credentials in both learning and developmental disabilities.
What is it to "disengage"? First, consider Erikson’s view of the ego integrity/despair crisis; there the life review results in both positive and negative emotional outcomes. It seems that the overall yield of positives versus negatives is related to elders’ well-being and mental health. It may not surprise you that researchers have found life reviews burdened by guilt and regrets are more prone to depression than those who have generally positive feelings about their lives. Folks leaning toward the negative may isolate and withdraw.
Disengagement theory asserts a withdrawal from others, fewer contacts and a shrinkage of life space. Throughout the lifespan it appears that social connection brings positive outcomes to all domains-physical, cognitive and psychosocial. Alternatively, loneliness and isolation in our senior years is associated with many negative outcomes. According to the National Institutes on Aging research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions: high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death.
So activity is important in our later years. Activity theorists often cite research demonstrating that the most active older adults report slightly greater satisfaction with themselves or their lives, are healthiest, and have the highest morale. Finally, continuity theory argues that the primary means by which elders adjust to aging is by engaging in the same kinds of activities that interested and challenged them in their earlier years. For instance, an older woman who was an avid gardener would do well to continue that activity in old age.
Given the physical and societal challenges to aging it might surprise you that researcher Laura Carstensen believes that "In general, people get happier as they get older."
