SUCCESSFUL AGING AND SOCIAL-RELATIONS - S ELECTION AND COMPENSATION IN THE SOCIAL CONTACT-BEHAVIOR

The model of selective optimization with compensation (Baltes & Baltes 1989; 1990) offers a theoretical concept of successful aging, that ai ms at the adaptivity of older persons in the aging process. The presen t study proposes an empirical operationalization of the model within t he domain of social contact behavior, and relates this to self-referen t knowledge on daily activities. Older persons with multiple chronic d iseases and those in generally good health are compared according to t heir self-referent knowledge on daily activities and social contact be havior. All participants in the study were socially integrated and wel l functioning. A total of 3 5 subjects (mean age = 74.4 years) kept a prestructured diary about their social contacts for a period of six da ys. Knowledge on daily activities was assessed in a semi-structured in terview. The interviews and diaries were content analyzed (inter-rater reliability estimated via Cohen's Kappa for the interview: M = 0.84; for the diaries: M = 0.93). Results show that the highly social integr ated subjects with multiple chronic diseases performed significantly b etter in selective and compensatory strategies than the subjects in go od health. Selection was indicated by (a) less family contact and a sm aller number of group encounters, b) more emotional support exchange, and (c) more knowledge on maintenance of daily activities. Compensatio n was indicated by (d) more frequent use of the telephone and (e) grea ter knowledge of prothetic resources. It is concluded that social inte gration and participation can be optimized through selective and compe nsatory strategies in the face of chronic diseases in old age.