Final answer:
The concept of older adults preferring to maintain independence as long as possible is associated with continuity theory, which outlines the tendency to remain active and involved in their established social roles to preserve social stability and independence in later life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept reflecting the preference of most older adults to maintain independence as long as possible is linked to continuity theory. According to this theory, older adults strive to maintain consistency in their lives through their personality structure, beliefs, and relationships. This consistent engagement in social roles is seen as a way to uphold social equilibrium and stability. Older adults often make decisions based on their established social roles, demonstrating an attempt to remain active and involved throughout their elder years, without succumbing to stereotypes of aging.
Cultural attitudes towards aging, such as filial piety in China or the historical respect for the elderly in Japan, play a significant role in how aging individuals perceive their independence. Moreover, access to better healthcare, information about health risks, and healthier lifestyles enables many to work past traditional retirement age, thereby prolonging their independence.
Older adults are increasingly making proactive quality-of-life decisions about their housing, retirement planning, and end-of-life care, which allows for more independence. Sociologists observe these patterns as indicative of changing attitudes and lifestyles amongst the aging population, even as they navigate challenges such as elder poverty and cultural misconceptions.