Development of Adaptive Coping From Mid to Late Life
Martin-Joy, J.S., Malone, J.C., Cui, X.J., Johansen, P.O., Hill, K.P., Rahman, M.O., Waldinger, R.J., & Vaillant, G.E. (2017). Development of Adaptive Coping From Mid to Late Life. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 205(9), 685–691.
Arhe Vaninetti
Research Methods, PSY301, Pacific University, Oregon
April 22, 2023
In Martin-Joy et al.’s 2017 article, they suggest that adaptive coping strategies are developed through a series of age-related changes in cognition, emotion, and social relationships, as well as increased exposure to life stressors and new opportunities for growth.
The authors conducted a literature review on coping and aging, focusing on studies that examined changes in coping strategies over time. Additionally, they also analyzed data from a major longitudinal study that followed individuals from mid- to late- life, wherein changes in coping strategies were assessed as well as their associations with well-being and health outcomes. Martin-Joy et al. revealed that older adults tend to use more adaptive coping strategies—such as problem-solving and positive reappraisal—when compared to younger adults.
The longitudinal studies found that individuals who reported using more adaptive coping strategies had better physical and mental health outcomes, as well as greater life satisfaction and resilience, over time. The authors also found evidence that certain factors, such as social support and cultural values, can influence the development and effectiveness of coping strategies. One longitudinal study included only 72 men participants, and was thus limited by gender. Furthermore, the 72 men were White and considered socioeconomically advantaged, which limited the generalizability of the study even further.
Overall, the study was able to identify consistencies in adaptive coping strategies, but mainly found that coping strategies were a dynamic process that continued to change throughout older adulthood. However, while the authors did not rely on the longitudinal study’s findings, the study may have limited generalizability and power of the overall assessment. For future research, a more diverse sample should be used to create a more accurate picture of coping strategies outside of majority populations.
I would alter this study to include a more robust sample size as well as include participants from less dominant cultures, as the view of individuality (and possibly of toxic masculinity) may have clouded the validity of the study. Furthermore, the ability to cope with life events (including the end of life) is an experience not exclusive to those in middle or late life, and this study could include individuals with terminal diagnoses.