ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses empirical research relating to three burgeoning themes in the study of aging and adaptation. The first theme concerns adults' attitudes towards aging and old age and the role that such evaluations can play in influencing well-being. The second theme is the role of personal relationships in adjustment to aging. The third theme is the study of personal meaning and spirituality. Research on attitudes to aging is important given their impact on later development, health, healthcare usage, and even mortality. One relatively well-developed area of research on religious coping in later life has been the study of adaptation to bereavement, especially of spouse and children. The process of adaptation to aging is fostered by a growing acceptance of its products, including a wider and less egocentric perspective on life, and a realisation that at every stage the experience of aging exceeds expectations.
