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

在过去的20年里，研究已经证实了衰老图像对成功发展和维持整个生命周期的生活质量的重要性。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刻理解，这是将研究结果转化为干预措施和公共政策所必需的。提出的网络旨在通过四个步骤来缩小这些差距（图1）：就共同术语达成共识（步骤1），将决定因素（步骤2）以及衰老图像的后续机制的发现和研究需求系统化（步骤3），并将理论付诸实践（步骤4）采取第一步。语境的多重表达（生活领域、社会环境、文化）对理解老龄化意象的表现和影响起着关键作用。一个全面的生命周期模型将被开发出来，将仍然零散的东西转换成一个由不同上下文层次组织的彻底的理论结构。通过产生和开展共同的研究项目和合作，老龄化研究的形象将得到重要的扩展。实现我们的目标将使我们有可能更好地理解整个生命周期中老龄化图像的动态变化，并增加与个人和人口老龄化图像的相关性的交流，使更广泛的受众。这些是设计有效干预措施的重要的第一步，以防止以赤字为导向的衰老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.