Continuity Theory

The Continuity Theory of normal aging states that older adults will usually maintain the same activities, behaviors, personalities, and relationships as they did in their earlier years of life [cite web | author=American Society on Aging | title=Continuity theory: How elders find wisdom in spite of it all | url=http://www.asaging.org/at/at-214/continuity.html | accessdate=2007-12-16 ] . According to this theory, older adults try to maintain this continuity of lifestyle by adapting strategies that are connected to their past experiences [cite journal |author=Atchley R. C. |year= 1989 |title= A continuity theory of normal aging |journal= The Gerontologist |volume= 29(2) |pages= 183–190] .

The continuity theory is one three psychosocial theories which describe how people develop in old age. The other two psychosocial theories are the disengagement theory, which the continuity theory comes to odds with, and the activity theory which the continuity theory modifies and elaborates upon. Unlike the other two theories, the continuity theory uses a life course perspective to define normal aging.

The continuity theory can be classified as a micro-level theory because it pertains to the individual, and more specifically it can be viewed from the functionalist perspective in which the individual and society try to obtain a state of equilibrium.

History

The continuity theory originated in the observation that a large proportion of older adults show consistency in their activities, personalities, and relationships despite their changing physical, mental, and social status cite encyclopedia| editor = Richard Schulz, Linda S. Noelker, Kenneth Rockwood, Richard L. Sprott| encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Aging| title = Continuity Theory| edition = 4th| year = 2006| publisher = Springer Publishing Company| volume = 1| isbn = 0-8261-4843-3| pages = 266-268] . In 1968, George L. Maddox gave an empirical description of the theory in a chapter of the book "Middle Age and Aging: A Reader in Social Psychology" called "Persistence of life style among the elderly: A longitudinal study of patterns of social activity in relation to life satisfaction". The continuity theory was formerly proposed in 1971 by Robert Atchley in his article "Retirement and Leisure Participation: Continuity or Crisis?" in the journal "The Gerontologist" [cite book |title= Profiles in Gerontology: A Biographical Dictionary |last= Achenbaum |first= W. Andrew |authorlink= |coauthors= Daniel M. Albert |year=1995 |publisher=Greenwood Press |location= |isbn=0-3132-9274-4 ] . Later, in 1989, he published another article entitled "A Continuity Theory of Normal Aging, in "The Gerontologist" in which he substantially developed the theory. In this article, he expanded the continuity theory to explain the development of internal and external structures of continuity. In 1999, Richard Atchley continued to strengthen his theory in his book "Continuity and Adaptation in Aging: Creating Positive Experiences" cite encyclopedia| editor = Richard Schulz, Linda S. Noelker, Kenneth Rockwood, Richard L. Sprott| encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Aging| title = Continuity Theory| edition = 4th| year = 2006| publisher = Springer Publishing Company| volume = 1| isbn = 0-8261-4843-3| pages = 266-268] .

Elements

The theory deals with the internal structure and the external structure of continuity to describe how people adapt to their situation and set their goals. The internal structure of an individual such as personality, ideas, and beliefs remain constant throughout the life course. This provides the individual a way to make future decisions based on their internal foundation of the past. The external structure of an individual such as relationships and social roles provides a support for maintaining a stable self-concept and lifestyle.

Criticisms and weaknesses

The major criticism for the theory is its definition of normal aging cite book |title= Aging and The Life Course: An Introduction to Social Gerontology |last= Quadagno |first= Jill |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2007 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages |location= |edition=4th |isbn=0-0735-2816-1 ] . The theory distinguishes normal aging from pathological aging, neglecting the older adults with chronic illness.

The feminist theories also attack the continuity theory for defining normal aging around a male modelcite book |title= Aging and The Life Course: An Introduction to Social Gerontology |last= Quadagno |first= Jill |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2007 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages |location= |edition=4th |isbn=0-0735-2816-1 ] .

One weakness of the theory is that it fails to demonstrate how social institutions impact the individuals and the way they age.

ee also

*Aging
*Disengagement theory
*Activity theory

References

Further reading

*cite journal |author=Atchley R. C. |year= 1971 |title= Retirement and leisure participation: Continuity or crisis? |journal= The Gerontologist |volume= 11(1) |pages= 13–17
*cite journal |author=Atchley R. C. |year= 1989 |title= A continuity theory of normal aging |journal= The Gerontologist |volume= 29(2) |pages= 183–190
*cite book |title= Continuity and Adaptation in Aging: Creating Positive Experiences |last= Atchley |first=Robert C. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1999 |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |location= |isbn=0-8018-6632-4
*cite book| last = Maddox| first = G. L.| authorlink = | editor = B. L. Neugarten | title = Middle Age and Aging: A Reader in Social Psychology| date = 1968| publisher = University of Chicago Press| location = Chicago| isbn = 0-226-573-826| pages = 181-183| chapter = Persistence of life style among the elderly: A longitudinal study of patterns of social activity in relation to life satisfaction