Life Experience as a Potential for Successful Ageing

Introduction. It is necessary to look for psychological opportunities for forming a positive image of old age under the undergoing changes in demographic conditions of the modern society. Based on their overview of previous publications, the authors concretize the definition of successful aging. This study attempts to analyze the importance of preserving one's life resources in mobilizing the potential for successful ageing. The empirical study rests on certain theoretical prerequisites that all agree on the need to replace the involutional paradigm of aging with the paradigm of successful aging. The authors demonstrate the role of a purposeful creative activity for the realization of a potential life experience in the process of maintaining successful aging. Methods. The following methods were used: (a) the technique for rapid assessment of cognitive functions in normal aging (N. K. Korsakova, E. Yu. Balashova, I. F. Roshchina); (b) Hardiness Survey by S. R. Maddi and S. Kobasa (adaptation of D. A. Leont'ev and E. I. Rasskazova); (c) K. Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-being (adaptation of T. D. Shevelenkova and T. P. Fesenko); and (d) the Subjective Perception of Own Life questionnaire (E. N. Chueva, V. A. Naumova). The sample comprised 130 respondents aged 56–84 years living in the territory of Kamchatka. Results. This section reports the empirical results concerning the effectiveness of elderly adults' participation in purposeful activities in the art group. It is proved that the preservation of individuals' cognitive resources and self–regulating abilities in old age is a condition for actualization of their potential life experience. Discussion. The realization of life experience in old age determines positive life perspectives. The authors analyze the reasons that may complicate the realization of life experience as a potential for successful aging.