Centenarians: Between Vulnerability and Resilience

Daniela Jopp, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne

Abstract: Given their exceptional longevity, centenarians have long been considered as examples of successful aging. Yet, with the rise of the numbers of the oldest-old and the parallel increases in empirical studies, findings suggest that centenarians may show vulnerability and resilience at the same time. Of high interest, but little investigated, are also the mechanisms that help centenarians to maintain superior levels of well-being and quality of life, despite being confronted with loss of resources and other difficulties. This presentation will assemble information from international centenarian studies investigating vulnerability and resilience across multiple domains of functioning (e.g., health, cognitive functioning, social relations, well-being, and psychological strengths). A specific focus will be put on findings from the Fordham Centenarian Study (USA), the Second Heidelberg Centenarian Study (Germany) and the ongoing SWISS100 Study (Switzerland). The presentation will furthermore offer some insights on how centenarians have experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, representing an interesting opportunity to study centenarians’ vulnerability and resilience.

Papers: 

1. DOI: 10.1037/0882-7974.21.2.266
2. DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.08.005
3. DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2016.0203

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