Abstract

With the increase in the elderly population worldwide there is an increasing interest for understanding the factors involved in the successful or active aging. However, despite the use of the construct and studies on the issue, complexities persist in its operationalization and its predicting factors. In the present study, a model of active aging using a MIMIC model (Multiple Causes and Multiple Indicators) a variant of structural equations was used, in a sample of 204 Chilean elderly. Both physical and cognitive functionality, together with variables associated to affective tone appear as causes, whereas the absence of depressive symptoms and the active role in the labor market appear as indicators of active aging. The model showed a good fit, chi(2)(80) = 107.8, p = .34, CFI = .942, TLI = .942 y RMSEA = .0416, p = .74 and allowed generating an indicator of active aging, from which its predictors were identified. Social variables showed high predictive capacity (R-2 = .214), followed by variables related to lifestyle (R-2 = .154) and individual variables (R-2 = .137). The proposed model is considered as a significant contribution in the operationalization of the active aging.