Abstract

Despite increased interest in the topic, the global rise in life expectancy has not been associated with better aging. This is influenced by the quality of life at the different stages of the life cycle in older adults. Less attention is paid to aging in urban indigenous older adults who, as in other Latin American contexts, have built their identity facing historically diverse cultural, social and political difficulties associated with an old age with greater vulnerability. Using a quantitative, crosssectional and correlational methodology, this study sought to evaluate direct relationships between identity affirmation, autonomy and successful aging in a sample of 355 urban Mapuche indigenous older adults. The results showed that identity affirmation and autonomy are associated with successful aging. These findings offer empirical and theoretical support for the formulation of social policies such as the implementation of favorable conditions for successful aging and well-being of urban indigenous older adults.