Views of future aging among middle-aged, university educated women

This study explored middle-aged, university educated women's views of their own future aging, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative tech niques. Seventy-four university graduates, aged 45 to 65, were interviewed about their views of aging and their employment histories. They also comple ted questionnaires measuring personality, self-efficacy, well-being, depres sion and social support. Content analysis of interview responses revealed t hat most women were optimistic about their own old age and expected overall stability in themselves, their financial situation and their relationships , with an improvement in the area of leisure. Positive expectations of stab ility were associated with satisfaction with oneself and past accomplishmen ts. A typology of accommodation to future aging, derived from the data on w omen's expectations and preparations, captured four patterns of cognitive, affective and behavioural dynamics. Women with different accommodation type s differed primarily on well-being, neuroticism and employment histories.