Images of aging: Via a dynamic life-span model to new perspectives for research and practise

在过去的20年里，研究证实了衰老的形象对于成功的发展和整个生命周期的持续生活质量的重要性。然而，老龄化图像研究中的几个悬而未决的问题限制了对老龄化图像起源和潜在过程的深入理解，这对于将研究结果转化为干预和公共政策是必要的。拟议的网络旨在通过四个步骤(图1)弥合这些差距：就一个共同的术语达成共识(步骤1)，将关于决定因素的结果和研究愿望系统化(步骤2)以及随后的衰老图像机制(步骤3)，以及为将理论付诸实践迈出第一步(步骤4)。语境在其多重表达(生活领域、社会环境、文化)中起着关键作用，对于理解衰老图像的表现和影响起着关键作用。将开发一个全面的生命周期模型，将仍然零碎的东西转化为按不同背景层次组织的全面理论结构。通过产生和实施共同的研究项目和合作，老龄化研究的形象将得到重要扩展。实现我们的目标将使我们有可能更好地理解衰老图像在整个生命周期中的动态，并增加关于老龄化图像与个人和人口老龄化的相关性与更广泛受众的沟通。这些是设计有效干预措施的重要第一步，以防止以赤字为导向的老龄化形象成为自我实现的预言。

Over the past 20 years, research has substantiated the importance of images of aging for successful development and sustained quality of life for the full length of life span. Several open questions in images of aging research, however, limit a deep understanding of origins and underlying processes of images of aging that is necessary for translation of findings into interventions and public policies. The proposed network aims to close these gaps by four steps (Figure 1): To reach consensus about a common terminology (step 1), to systematize findings and research desiderata on determinants (step 2) as well as subsequent mechanisms of images of aging (step 3), and to take first steps for putting theory into practice (step 4). Context in its multiple expressions (life domain, social environment, culture) plays a key role for understanding the manifestation and influence of images of aging. A comprehensive life-span model will be developed that converts what is still piecemeal into a thorough theoretical structure organized by different contextual levels. By generating and conducting common research projects and collaborations, images of aging research will be importantly extended. Reaching our goal would render possible a better understanding of the dynamics of images of aging across the life span and an increased communication of the relevance of images of aging for individual and population aging to a wider audience. These are significant first steps to designing effective interventions that prevent deficit-oriented images of aging from becoming self-fulfilling prophecies.