The Kaleidoscope of Later Life: Lay Perceptions of the Activity Theory, Continuity Theory, and Disengagement Theory among Older Adults in Singapore

Bryan Tan , National University of Singapore
YAN MO, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
Qiushi Feng, National University of Singapore

The Activity (AT), Continuity (CT), and Disengagement (DT) theories have long competed in gerontology in defining the ideal later life. This study explores how older adults in Singapore perceive these three classic theories, examining how they compete and compromise in the lay domain. We used data from the Lifelong Education for Aging Productively (LEAP) in Singapore project. 2545 respondents, aged 65 and above, evaluated the propositions of each classic theory. We used a Venn diagram, latent class analysis (LCA), and regression models to classify perception types among older adults and examine their correlates. While AT received the highest support, many older Singaporeans also endorsed the CT and DT, with approximately 60% of respondents supporting more than one theory. Five types of lay preferences were identified via LCA, and they were found to be associated with socioeconomic and cultural factors, with Singaporean Chinese older adults comparably more aligned with the AT than Malay and Indian older adults. Affirming older adults’ autonomy to voice their preferences for later life, this study sheds new light on longstanding debates about ideal aging models. Lay views on later life are diverse, complex, and multifaceted. Older adults frequently embrace multiple competing models. While this demonstrates the relevance of the classic theories, it simultaneously highlights the fuzziness and pluralism in conceptions about ideal aging. More importantly, findings reveal cultural and socioeconomic patterns underlying the structure of lay conceptions, understanding of which is critical for equitable aging policies.

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 Presented in Session 42. Flash Session Work, Family Roles and Social Participation in Later Life