SELF AND PERSONALITY IN OLD AND VERY OLD-AGE - A SAMPLE CASE OF RESILIENCE

Characteristics and processes linked to self and personality functioni ng are considered as illustrations of resilience in old and very old a ge. Two self-related processes-coping styles and personal life investm ent-are investigated as examples of internal resources that the aging person may bring to bear when dealing with the risks of old age. Beyon d chronological age as a rough approximation of such risks, this artic le specifically explores the relationship between physical risks, sell -related processes, and level of adaptation in a representative sample of 70- to 103-year-olds. The central hypothesis is that self-related processes may buffer age-related risks, and may to a certain degree pr eserve or avoid large drops in levels of adaptation. Working on a corr elational level of analysis, results indicated that well into old age, the self is able to maintain a relatively high level of adaptation. A lso, under conditions of a high degree of physical constraints: (a) bo th coping styles and personal life investment were associated with res ilience; (b) beyond particular coping styles, a selective flexibility in coping was associated with resilience. The degree of physical const raints moderated (c) the adaptiveness of several coping styles and of personal life investment; and (d) extreme physical constraints appeare d to limit the possibilities of resilience. The effect of physical con straints on level of adaptation in turn was moderated by age. Consiste nt with a life-span theory of development, results are interpreted as an example of evidence for the resilience of the aging self and its li mits.