{"id":109607,"date":"2024-07-30T21:24:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T21:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uitac.com\/inthenewsblog\/?p=109607"},"modified":"2025-10-07T17:28:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T17:28:13","slug":"what-is-gerontology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uitac.com\/inthenewsblog\/what-is-gerontology\/","title":{"rendered":"A Crash Course in Gerontology Theories"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Foundational perspectives of sociology can be applied to aging and gerontology \u2014 the study of old age, the process of aging, and the particular problems of older populations. But with any field, demographic, or topic, more specific theories offer a closer look. Continuity theory, disengagement theory, and activity theory all focus on explaining age in different ways. They are direct contrasts from each other and can be helpful when discussing social problems people experience as they age.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Continuity Theory <\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-109608 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/uitac.com\/inthenewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/07\/photo-1517590440605-44b39f4b233a.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"278\" height=\"185\" \/>Middle-aged and older adults use adaptive measures to promote mental and physical continuity. Continuity theory is a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/9197622\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">micro-level psychosocial theory<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> connected to aging. Continuity theory states that older adults maintain activities, behaviors, and relationships they had in young adulthood and adulthood, and this connects them to a sense of familiarity that increases life satisfaction.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As adults age, they experience many changes. Empty nest syndrome, when the final child permanently leaves the household, might hit a parent in their mid-40s or early 50s. Hair begins to turn gray and thins out because of hormonal changes. Similarly, hearing and vision loss happen to some people as early as their 40s. As a result, older adults try to build internal and external structures that have taken them a lifetime to build. Internal structures are personality, ideas, and beliefs that don\u2019t experience change as people transition through life stages. External structures are relationships and social roles that support the self-image. The internal and external structures are products of continuity and the base of continuity theory.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There are a few problems that are not addressed with the continuity theory. External structures should include social institutions that influence individuals as they age \u2014 the theory focuses on interpersonal relationships, but how could family structure and trends in religion also impact an individual? Continuity theory is also framed in the \u201cnormal aging process,\u201d so it fails to address adults with chronic illness, those who experience neglect or abuse, and those who experience pathological aging.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Disengagement Theory<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">People don\u2019t always stay attached to the internal and external structures discussed in continuity theory. Disengagement theory argues that as adults age, they gradually disconnect from social relationships and society. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/sdfe\/pdf\/download\/eid\/3-s2.0-B0123708702001888\/first-page-pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">disengagement is mutual<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> \u2014 society partakes in leaving the aging individual just as much as the individual leaves society. When disengagement theory was first described in 1961, theorists considered it a natural process that would happen to every individual eventually.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Due to aging, individuals are often forced to withdraw from their previous activities, behaviors, and routines. If an older adult requires a hip replacement or experiences joint pain, they are less likely to continue participating in walks with friends and family or creating crafts. There is less contact with interpersonal relationships, resulting in disengagement.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Disengagement theory is not free of criticism. Not everyone disengages within a society, and disengagement is not a universal experience. Some people lean toward an aging process from the continuity perspective. Disengagement on the individual\u2019s part might not be voluntary \u2014 it could be an outcome of social structures and institutions isolating aging adults.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Active Theory<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-109609 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/uitac.com\/inthenewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/07\/photo-1500468756762-a401b6f17b46.avif\" alt=\"\" width=\"216\" height=\"324\" \/>Activity theory proposes that aging adults who are active into later stages of life will have the highest life satisfaction. The theory directly responds to the disengagement theory, which proposes the opposite. Activity can be physical and social. There are numerous health benefits to staying physically active as people get older, and social ties often ground people within society as they age. Meaningful activities, such as cooking for a family member or joining a club with people who have similar hobbies, are even better once a person hits retirement and transitions into later life stages.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The active theory is backed by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/socialsci.libretexts.org\/Bookshelves\/Sociology\/Introduction_to_Sociology\/Sociology_(Boundless)\/18%3A_Aging\/18.03%3A_The_Functionalist_Perspective_on_Aging\/18.3B%3A_Activity_Theory#:~:text=The%20activity%20theory%20of%20aging,the%20disengagement%20theory%20of%20aging.\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">five decades of gerontological research and is regarded as more accurate<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> than disengagement theory. Socialization is important to self-worth and life expectancy; the more an individual socializes and interacts with other people and society, the longer they might live and be happy. However, the theory fails to recognize the economic and health inequality older adults face. If someone doesn\u2019t have money for clubs and hobbies or transportation to be included in larger social institutions, they could experience a less active lifestyle.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Conclusions and Further Discussion<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Continuity theory states that aging adults attempt to preserve relationships, behaviors, and personalities using internal and external structures. Disengagement theory proposes that individuals and society disconnect from each other as they age. Activity theory claims remaining active in society through socialization will increase aging individuals\u2019 quality of life. What are some other comparisons or differences you can spot? Which theoretical perspective do you think works best, and why?\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Mortimer is a guest blogger at <\/span><\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/uitac.com\/\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">UITAC Publishing<\/span><\/i><\/a><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">. UITAC\u2019s mission is to provide high-quality, affordable, and socially responsible online course materials.<\/span><\/i><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Images used in this blog:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/photo-of-gray-rope-CffpuUDQ1iU\">Worn Out<\/a>\u201d by <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@wardhanaaditya\">Aditya Wardhana<\/a> is licensed by <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/license\">Unsplash<\/a>. This image has not been altered.<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/person-climbing-concrete-stairs-hSB2HmJYaTo\">Artem Ismagilov routine before Baikal winter marathon<\/a>\u201d by <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@cliqueimages\">Clique Images<\/a> is licensed by <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/license\">Unsplash<\/a>. This image has not been altered.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Foundational perspectives of sociology can be applied to aging and gerontology \u2014 the study of old age, the process of aging, and the particular problems of older populations. But with any field, demographic, or topic, more specific theories offer a closer look. Continuity theory, disengagement theory, and activity theory all focus on explaining age in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":109609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[188,175],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-109607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-age-and-ageism","category-health-illness-medicine"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - 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