Objectives: To investigate methods that older Holocaust survivors and their age peers use in order to maintain the best possible life and to examine associations between these methods and subjective well-being. Method: Participants were 481 older Israelis (mean age 77.4 ± 6.7 years): Holocaust survivors (n = 164), postwar immigrants (n = 183), and prewar immigrants (n = 134). Measures included sociodemographics and indicators of health and well-being. Respondents were asked to answer an open-ended question: What are the methods you use to maintain the best possible life?'. Answers were coded into eight categories. Results: Holocaust survivors were signifcantly less likely to mention methods coded as 'Enjoyment' (32.3%) relative to postwar (43.7%) and prewar (46.2%) immigrants and signifcantly more likely to mention methods coded as 'Maintaining good health' (39.0%) relative to postwar (27.9%) and prewar (21.6%) immigrants. Controlling for sociodemographics and health status, Holocaust survivors still differed from their peers. Discussion: Aging Holocaust survivors tended to focus on more essential/fundamental needs (e.g., health), whereas their peers tended to focus on a wider range of needs (e.g., enjoyment) in their effort to maintain the best possible life. Our fndings may add to the proactivity model of successful aging by suggesting that aging individuals in Israel use both proactive (e.g., health) and cognitive (e.g., accepting the present) adaptation methods, regardless of their reported history during the war. © 2016 The Author(s).

Holocaust survivors Proactive aging Successful aging Open-ended question

immigrant Israel human wellbeing Israeli middle aged survivor daily life activity statistics and numerical data aging controlled study holocaust Survivors health status Aged Activities of Daily Living Healthy Aging Emotional Adjustment Marital Status marriage quality of life Humans psychology male female Aged, 80 and over very elderly Article psychological adjustment major clinical study human experiment