DETERMINANTS OF ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR AMONG OLDER PERSONS SELF-EFFICACY, IMPORTANCE AND PERSONAL DISPOSITIONS AS DIRECTIVE MECHANISMS

Successful aging calls for effective adaptation, which in turn implies flexible use of coping strategies to optimize personal functioning and well-being. The present paper studied adaptive choice behavior of older, independently living persons faced with complications in their houses. The goal was to gain insight in the concrete coping process and its outcome-- in terms of the choice of assimilative vs. accommodative strategies-- and in the role of three determinants on this process. The determinants were perceived self-efficacy, importance of the problem and personal dispositions (flexibility and tenacity). A sample of 199 independently living older persons participated in an experiment that was based on a scenario and questionnaire method, with problems stemming from the domain of independent living. Results mainly underline the crucial role of perceived self-efficacy, and are discussed in view of the concept of successful aging. Effective adaptation is an integral part of successful aging. This does not necessarily imply instrumental or problem-focused, goal-directed coping, but rather the flexible use of strategies, to optimize personal functioning and well-being within the constraints of personal competence and resources (Baltes & Baltes, 1990). Successful aging requires competence, not in the restricted sense in which it is often used in aging studies, merely referring to the ability to perform the activities of daily living, but competence in it