Abstract
The purpose of this study is to construct Taiwan’s Active Aging Index (TAAI) based on the Active Aging Index (AAI) of the European Union (EU) and with consideration of the cultural and specific characteristics in Taiwan and to compare the result with the AAI status in the EU-28 countries. The first draft of TAAI was developed; 25 experts from the aging industry, government representatives, and academics were invited to participate in the modified Delphi method or an expert group meeting. Older adults were invited to collect opinions from the perspective of older people. The weights of the TAAI indicators were assessed by an analytical hierarchical method based on the Delphi method questionnaire. The indicators collected by a survey questionnaire were designed, pretested and modified, and then, the data were collected from a sample across four regions of Taiwan (n = 738). The TAAI indicator scores were calculated accordingly. The AAI performance of Taiwan was also compared with the performance of the EU-28 countries. The original 4 AAI domains were maintained in the framework. In TAAI, 11 indicators were added to the existing four domains and, in total, 33 indicators were suggested. The TAAI indicators showed acceptable reliability and predictive validity in self-rated health. The indicators regarding health and capacity for active aging in Taiwan were good, and social participation and economic security could be improved. The TAAI framework and indicators are suggested to be applied in the monitoring and policy making of active aging and in future research.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bacigaup, A., González-Rábago, Y., Martin, U., Murillo, S., & Unceta, A. (2018). The Active Ageing Index in a southern European region (Biscay): Main results and potentials for policymaking. In A. Zaidi, S. Harper, K. Howse, G. Lamura, & J. Perek-Bialas (Eds.), Building evidence for active ageing policies: Active Ageing Index and its potential (pp. 97–116). Singapore: Springer Nature.
Baltes, P. B., & Baltes, M. M. (1990). Psychological perspectives on successful aging: the model of selective optimization with compensation. In P. B. Baltes & M. M. Baltes (Eds.), Successful aging: perspectives from the behavioral sciences (pp. 1–34). Cambridge, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Chen, J. W., Chang, Y. Y., Kao, S. F., & Lu, L. (2013). Getting old is terrible? The optimal aging process among older Taiwanese. Indigenous Psychological Research in Chinese Societies,40, 87–140. (in Chinese).
Chen, C., Goldman, D. P., Zissimopoulos, J., Rowe, J. W., & Research Network on an Aging Society. (2018). Multidimensional comparison of countries’ adaptation to societal aging. PNAS,115(3), 435–437.
Chen, C. N., Hsu, H. C., Yeh, L. L., Chu, C. L., & Hsieh, Y. P. (2012). Active aging: Taiwan’s experience in laws, policies, and practice revolution. Taipei, Yeh-Yeh Gallery (Chinese).
Del Barrio, E., Rodriguez-Laso, A., Mayoral, O., Sancho, M., & Amilibia, L. (2018). The Active Aging Index: A tool to develop the strategy of active aging in the Basque country (Spain). In A. Zaidi, S. Harper, K. Howse, G. Lamura, & J. Perek-Bialas (Eds.), Building evidence for active ageing policies: Active Ageing Index and its potential (pp. 139–166). Singapore: Springer Nature.
European Commission (EC) and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. (UNECE). Active Aging Group. (2013). Active Ageing Index (AAI): Concept, methodology and final results. Vienna, European Centre, 2013 (UNECE Grant No. ECE/GC/2012/003).
European Commission and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. (2014). AAI 2014: Active Ageing Index for 28 European Union countries. Retrieved from: https://statswiki.unece.org/display/AAI/Active+Ageing+Index+Home.
Folstein, M. F., Folstein, S. E., & McHugh, P. R. (1975). “Mini-Mental State”: A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinicians. Journal of Psychiatric Research,12, 189–198.
Formosa, M. (2017). Responding to the Active Ageing Index: Innovations in active ageing policies in Malta. Journal of Population Ageing,10, 87–99.
Hamblin, K. A. (2013). Active ageing in the European Union: Policy convergence and divergence (p. 2013). UK, Palgrave Macmillian: Hampshire.
Hermalin, A. I. (2002). The well-being of the elderly in Asia: A four-country comparative study. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press.
Hess, M., Nauman, E., & Steinkopf, L. (2017). Population ageing, the intergenerational conflict, and active ageing policies—A multilevel study of 27 European countries. Journal of Population Aging,10, 11–23.
Hsu, H. C. (2007). Exploring elderly people’s perspective on successful aging in Taiwan. Ageing & Society,27(1), 87–102.
Hsu, H. C. (2011). Impact of morbidity and life events on successful aging. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health,23(4), 458–469.
Hsu, H. C., & Jones, B. L. (2012). Multiple trajectories of successful aging of older and younger cohorts. The Gerontologist,52(6), 843–856.
Hsu, H. C., Tsai, C. Y., Chang, M. C., & Lu, D. L. (2010). Constructing area-level indicators of successful ageing in Taiwan. Health and Social Care in the Community,18(1), 70–81.
International Longevity Centre Brazil (ILC-BR). (2015). Active aging: A policy framework in response to the longevity revolution. Rio de Janeiro: International Longevity Centre Brazil.
John A. Harford Aging Society Index. (2018). Retrieved April 24, 2018, from http://agingsocietynetwork.org/john-hartford-index-societal-aging.
Kafková, M. P. (2018). The Ative Aging Index (AAI) and its relation to the quality of life of older adults. In A. Zaidi, S. Harper, K. Howse, G. Lamura, & J. Perek-Bialas (Eds.), Buidling evidence for active ageing policies: Active Ageing Index and its potential (pp. 55–74). Singapore: Springer Nature.
Karpinska, K., & Dykstra, P. (2015). The Active Ageing Index and its extension to the regional level. Prepared by European Commission, European Union.
Kohout, F. J., Berkman, L., Evans, D. A., & Huntley, J. C. (1993). Two shorts forms of the CES-D Depression Symptom Index. Journal of Aging and Health,5, 179–193.
Lin, L. H. (2012). The construction of indicators of active ageing and implications for elder education policy. Journal of Adult and Lifelong Education,19, 77–111. [in Chinese].
Murry, J. W., & Hammons, J. O. (1995). Delphi: A versatile methodology for conducting qualitative research. Review of Higher Education,18(4), 423–436.
National Development Council. (2017). Taiwan Statistics Data Book 2016. https://popproj.ndc.gov.tw/.
Quattrociocchi, L., Squilante, D., & Tibladi, M. (2018). Greying Italy across time, space, and gender. In A. Zaidi, S. Harper, K. Howse, G. Lamura, & J. Perek-Bialas (Eds.), Building evidence for active ageing policies: Active Ageing Index and its potential (pp. 167–190). Singapore: Springer Nature.
Rantanen, T., Portegijs, E., Kokko, K., Rantakokko, M., Törmäkangas, T., & Saajanaho, M. (2018). Developing an assessment method of active aging: University of Jyvaskyla Active Aging Scale. Journal of Aging and Health. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264317750449
Rodriguez-Rodriguez, V., Rojo-Perez, F., Fernandez-Mayoralas, G., Morillo-Tomas, R., Forjaz, J., & Prieto-Flores, M.-E. (2017). Active Ageing Index: Application to Spanish regions. Journal of Population Aging,10, 25–40.
Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1997). The structure of successful aging. In J. W. Rowe & R. L. Kahn (Eds.), Successful aging (pp. 36–52). New York: Dell Publishing.
São José, J. M., Timonen, V., Amado, C. A. F., & Santos, S. P. (2017). A critique of the Active Ageing Index. Journal of Aging Studies,40, 49–56.
Satty, T. L. (2008). Decision making with the analytic hierarchy process. International Journal of Services Sciences,1(1), 83–98.
Tesch-Roemer, C. (2012). Active ageing and quality of life in old age. New York: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, United Nations.
Thanakwang, K., Isaramalai, S. A., & Hatthakit, U. (2014). Development and psychometric testing of the active aging scale for Thai adults. Clinical Interventions in Aging,9, 1211–1221.
Tsai, J. C., Chen, C. W., Chu, H., Yang, H. L., Chung, M. H., Liao, Y. M., et al. (2016). Comparing the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Mini-Mental State Examination when screening people for mild cognitive impairment and dementia in Chinese population. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing,30(4), 486–491.
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe/European Commission. (2015). Active Ageing Index 2014: Analytical report. Geneva: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Varlmamova, M., Ermolina, A., & Sinyavskaya, O. (2017). Active Ageing Index as an evidence base for developing a comprehensive active ageing policy in Russia. Journal of Population Aging,10, 41–71.
Walker, A. (2015). The concept of active ageing. In A. Walker & C. Aspalter (Eds.), Active ageing in Asia (pp. 14–29). London: Taylor & Francis Group, Routledge.
World Health Organization. (2002). Active aging: A policy framework (p. 2002). Geneva: World Health Organization.
World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. (1998). Wellbeing measures in primary health care/The Depcare Project. Copenhagen: World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe.
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by grants from the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan (MOHW104-HPA-H-114-114101, MOHW105-HPA-M-114-142406, MOHW106-HPA-M-114-134401, MOHW107-HPA-M-114-144404) and Taipei Medical University (TMU107-AE1-B12). Miss Mu-Ting Yu and Mr. Jhan-Yi Lin helped in the data collection and data analysis. We acknowledge all the experts and older adult representatives who attended this project and provided the precious comments.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
This study does not have any potential conflicts of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hsu, HC., Liang, J., Luh, DL. et al. Constructing Taiwan’s Active Aging Index and Applications for International Comparison. Soc Indic Res 146, 727–756 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-019-02128-6
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-019-02128-6