Motivation and self-care in aging: a systematic review of the literature

Journal title PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE
Author/s Daniela Lemmo, Roberto Bianco, Maria Francesca Freda
Publishing Year 2025 Issue 2025/2
Language Italian Pages 21 P. 52-72 File size 207 KB
DOI 10.3280/PDS2025-002004
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The aging of the population and average life expectancy are increasing over the years and, at the same time, the lifespan in which individuals live with one or more chronic pathologies is becoming longer, often caused by unhealthy lifestyles. The early onset of chronicity affects individual functionality, levels of well-being and quality of life, the use of healthcare and the risk of mortality. From a healthy aging perspective, the motivation to adopt and change health behaviors appears crucial for maintaining good practices, for better healthcare engagement and health outcomes. Although research has supported the relationship between self-care and health promotion, conceptualizations of self-care remain somewhat conflicting and are not always linked to motivation. As part of a broader clinical psychology project, the aim of this review is to identify the ways in which the constructs of motivation and self-care are expressed in the context of aging. According to the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was carried out using the MEDLINE/PubMed and PsycINFO databases. 31 articles met the inclusion criteria. Three main trajectories have been identified: motivation as a process in healthy aging process; self-care as a capacity for health and autonomy; the recursion between motivation and self-care in chronic illness. From the results emerges the need for new research efforts to conceptually decline the relationships between the two constructs in the context of healthy aging, in order to promote motivational self-care interventions in the aging process.

Keywords: healthy aging, motivation, self-care, primary care.

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Daniela Lemmo, Roberto Bianco, Maria Francesca Freda, Motivazione e cura di sé nell’invecchiamento: una revisione sistematica della letteratura in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 2/2025, pp 52-72, DOI: 10.3280/PDS2025-002004