ABSTRACT
Advancements in science, medicine and social services mean that people are living longer than ever before. This century alone has seen an increase of 30 years in the average life expectancy at birth from 47 years in 1900 to 77 years today. Similarly, the number of people in England and Wales aged over 70 years is continuing to rise from just 1 in 36 at the turn of the century, to 1 in 8 in 1991. With these demographic achievements however comes a more urgent need to identify the factors likely to influence health, autonomy and well-being into later years. One such factor is the level of favourability or challenge being associated with the latter part of the life course, that is adults’ attitudes to their own aging and future old age.
