Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences
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Table of contents
- Contentsvii
- Contributorsxv
- Forewordxvii
- Prefacexix
- About the Editorsxxiii
- Part One: Aging and Time1
- Chapter 1. Aging and the Life Course3
- I. Why Gerontology Needs the Life Course3
- II. Clarifying the Distinctiveness of Old Age8
- III. Exploring Connections Between Old Age and Prior Life Periods10
- IV. The End of Gerontology?13
- V. Conclusion14
- References16
- Chapter 2. Modeling the Effects of Time: Integrating Demographic and Developmental Perspectives20
- I. Conceptions of Time20
- II. Population Concepts23
- III. Analysis Issues24
- IV. Modeling the Effects of Time28
- V. Conclusions34
- References35
- Part Two: Aging and Social Structure39
- Chapter 3. Morbidity, Disability, and Mortality41
- I. Epidemiologic Transition Theory and Recent Trends in Adult Mortality42
- II. The Dynamics of Morbidity, Disability, and Mortality45
- III. Demographic, Social, and Behavioral Differentials in Morbidity, Disability, and Mortality48
- IV. Conclusions and Future Research Directions54
- References55
- Chapter 4. Old Age Through the Lens of Family History59
- I. The Initial Interpretative Phase: Modernization and the Families of the Old60
- II. The Second Phase: The Cambridge Group and Its Followers61
- III. A Research Agenda72
- References73
- Chapter 5. Internal and International Migration76
- I. Internal Migration76
- II. Late-Life International Migration84
- III. Future Research Priorities89
- References89
- Chapter 6. Diversity and Aging in the United States94
- I. Population Diversity and the Pact Between the Generations94
- II. The Ethnic Age Grading of the Population95
- III. Culture and Diversity97
- IV. Health of the Elderly Minority Population98
- V. Income and Wealth: The Sources of Retirement Security101
- VI. Age at Immigration102
- VII. Medical Care, Living Arrangements, and Long-Term Care103
- VIII. Conclusion104
- References106
- Chapter 7. Social Networks and Health111
- I. Social Structure and Health111
- II. The Network Approach112
- III. Review of Social Network Properties and Health115
- IV. Conclusions and Directions for Future Research121
- References124
- Chapter 8. Converging Divergences in Age, Gender, Health, and Well-Being: Strategic Selection in the127
- I. Age- and Gender-Graded Role Constellations129
- II. The Third Age and Retirement: Institutions and Role Constellations in Flux131
- III. Converging Divergences in the Third Age: Consequences of Obsolete Age- and Gender-Graded Conste134
- IV. A Converging Divergence?138
- V. Summary139
- References140
- Chapter 9. Stratification and the Life Course: Life Course Capital, Life Course Risks, and Social In145
- I. Life Course Capital: Evolutionary and Social Origins146
- II. Forms of Life Course Capital: A Brief Review148
- III. Childhood: The First Life Course Risks in the Development of Life Course Capital149
- IV. Challenges to Linking Childhood Origins to Adult Outcomes152
- V. Life Course Risks After Childhood: Variant Opportunities and Deviant Setbacks153
- VI. Variant Adult Pathways to Inequality: Patterns of Disadvantage and Advantage154
- VII. Deviant Setbacks in the Life Course: Criminal Records156
- VIII. Conclusions: The Retrenchment of Equalizing Institutions and Life Course Stratification157
- References158
- Part Three: Social Factors and Social Institutions163
- Chapter 10. Intergenerational Family Transfers in Social Context165
- I. Altruism, Power, and Reciprocity in Family Systems166
- II. Public-Private Interfaces170
- III. Corporate and Mutual Aid Models172
- IV. Normative-Moral Perspectives on Transfers174
- V. Conclusion175
- References176
- Chapter 11. Social Relationships in Late Life181
- I. What Are Social Relationships?182
- II. Exploring the Genesis of Social Relationships182
- III. Social Relationships and Health188
- IV. Variations by Race193
- V. The Current State of Theory on Social Relationships196
- VI. Conclusions197
- References198
- Chapter 12. Older Workers201
- I. Who Are OlderŽ Workers in Todays Economy?202
- II. The Demographic Context of an Aging Labor Force203
- III. Age Discrimination in the Workplace204
- IV. Experiences of Older Workers in the Labor Market205
- V. Employment Opportunities for Older Workers207
- VI. Improving the Fit Between Human Resources and Jobs208
- VII. Older Worker Policies in Comparative Perspective209
- VIII. Conclusions214
- References215
- Chapter 13. Economic Status of the Aged219
- I. Income and Asset Status of Older Adults220
- II. Measures of Economic Well-Being230
- III. Conclusions and Directions for Future Research234
- References235
- Chapter 14. Health and Aging238
- I. Fifty Years of Research on Health and Aging238
- II. Life Course Epidemiology241
- III. Health and Illness Behavior245
- IV. Future Research Directions248
- V. Social Forces and Health Across the Life Course250
- References250
- Chapter 15. Technological Change and Aging257
- I. Theoretical Perspectives258
- II. Overview of Applications259
- III. Factors in the Use of Technology by Older Persons265
- IV. Conclusions269
- References270
- Chapter 16. Religion and Aging277
- I. Background277
- II. Views of Aging in the World Religions281
- III. Religious Involvement and Aging Across the Life Course283
- IV. Cohort Differences in Religious Involvement286
- V. Societal Aging and Its Impact on Religious Institutions287
- VI. Impact of Religious Involvement on Health in Late Life289
- VII. Congregation and Clergy Care for Older Adults293
- VIII. Communities of Memory: Ethnographies of Old Age in Religious Communities294
- IX. Conclusion295
- References295
- Chapter 17. Lifestyle and Aging301
- I. Defining Lifestyle303
- II. Successful AgingŽ as Code for Lifestyle308
- III. An Agenda to (Re)Unite Structure and Agency as Constitutive of Lifestyle309
- IV. Conclusion316
- References316
- Chapter 18. Perceived Quality of Life320
- I. Conceptualizing and Defining Quality of Life321
- II. Is Quality of Life an Objective or Subjective Phenomenon?321
- III. Is Successful AgingŽ the Same as Quality of Life?322
- IV. Is Quality of Life Responsive to Changing Internal and External Circumstances?322
- V. Determinants of Subjective Well-Being323
- VI. Demographic Characteristics324
- VII. Socioeconomic Status325
- VIII. Health325
- IX. Activities325
- X. Social Integration326
- XI. Social Ties and Social Support327
- XII. Psychosocial Mediators of the Determinants of SWB327
- XIII. Sense of Control and Related Constructs327
- XIV. Sense of Meaning328
- XV. Social Comparisons328
- XVI. Discrepancy Theories329
- XVII. Strategic Investments of Time and Resources329
- XVIII. A Cautionary Note329
- XIX. Cross-Cultural Comparisons330
- XX. Priority Issues for Future Research331
- References333
- Part Four: Aging and Society337
- Chapter 19. Aging and Politics: An International Perspective339
- I. The New Politics of Aging339
- II. The New Macro Politics of Aging342
- III. The New Meso and Micro Politics of Aging344
- IV. Participation in Local Decision Making346
- V. Participation in National Decision Making347
- VI. Gray Power: Reality or Myth?347
- VII. Barriers to Political Participation and Influence350
- VIII. Prospects for the Politics of Aging: A Research Agenda353
- References356
- Chapter 20. Economic Security in Retirement: Reshaping the Public-Private Pension Mix360
- I. What Pension Mix?360
- II. Pensions in the Twentieth Century: Defined Benefit Plans Dominate361
- III. Pensions in the Twenty-First Century: The Rise of Defined Contribution Plans365
- IV. Problems with Defined Contribution Plans367
- V. International Experience with New Pension Mixes370
- VI. Which Way Reform?375
- References377
- Chapter 21. Organization and Financing of Health Care380
- I. The Creation of Medicare and Medicaid381
- II. The Pressures on a Public System383
- III. How the Total System Has Evolved Over Time385
- IV. Issues Surrounding Reliance on the Private Market388
- V. Where Medicaid and Medicare Are Today391
- VI. Where Could We Go with the Organization and Financing of Care?392
- References395
- Chapter 22. Emerging Issues in Long-Term Care397
- I. Defining Long-Term Care397
- II. The Triple Knot of Long-Term Care400
- III. Emerging Issues in Long-Term Care408
- References414
- Chapter 23. Aging and the Law419
- I. Law as a Social Tool419
- II. Law as a Source of Elder Rights422
- III. Legal Grounds for Government Interventions424
- IV. Legal Status of Older Persons426
- V. Does the Law Accomplish Its Goals?431
- VI. Elder Law as a Legal Specialty432
- VII. Looking to the Future433
- References434
- Chapter 24. Anti-Aging Medicine and Science: Social Implications436
- I. The Contemporary Anti-Aging Movement437
- II. Boundary Work: Gerontologists versus Anti-Aging Medicine441
- III. Anti-Aging Frontiers in Biogerontology443
- IV. Issues for Future Research448
- References451
- Chapter 25. Aging and Justice456
- I. Age and Generation457
- II. Justice: Empirical and Normative Perspectives459
- III. Generational Equity: Discourse and Institutions464
- IV. Generational Equity: The Empirical Record467
- V. Attitudes Toward the Public Generational Contract
- VI. The Public and the Private Generational Contract474
- VII. Conclusion474
- References475
- Author Index479
- Subject Index507
The Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences, Sixth Edition provides a comprehensive summary and evaluation of recent research on the social aspects of aging. The 25 chapters are divided into four sections discussing Aging and Time, Aging and Social Structure, Social Factors and Social Institutions, and Aging and Society. Within this context, aging is examined from the perspectives of many disciplines and professions including anthropology, bioethics, demography, economics, epidemiology, law, political science, psychology, and sociology.
The Sixth Edition of the Handbook is virtually 100% new material. Seventeen chapters are on subjects not carried in the previous edition. Seven topics were carried over from the previous edition but written by new authors with fresh perspectives and brought up to date. Some of the exciting new topics include social relationships in late life, technological change and aging, religion and aging, lifestyle and aging, perceived quality of life, economic security in retirement, and aging and the law. There is also a greater emphasis on international perspectives, particularly in chapters on aging and politics, diversity and aging, and immigration.
The Handbook will be of use to researchers and professional practitioners working with the aged. It is also suitable for use as a course text for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses on aging and the social sciences.
The Sixth Edition of the Handbook is virtually 100% new material. Seventeen chapters are on subjects not carried in the previous edition. Seven topics were carried over from the previous edition but written by new authors with fresh perspectives and brought up to date. Some of the exciting new topics include social relationships in late life, technological change and aging, religion and aging, lifestyle and aging, perceived quality of life, economic security in retirement, and aging and the law. There is also a greater emphasis on international perspectives, particularly in chapters on aging and politics, diversity and aging, and immigration.
The Handbook will be of use to researchers and professional practitioners working with the aged. It is also suitable for use as a course text for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses on aging and the social sciences.