Operationalising Healthy Ageing: A Framework and Dataset Developed from a Systematic Literature Review Mapping Healthy Ageing Constructs, Measures and Measurement Approaches
Description
Healthy ageing is a multidimensional process shaped by physical, mental, social and environmental factors across the life course. However, the lack of a standardised framework and varying interpretations of healthy ageing limit meaningful comparison across studies and contexts. This dataset is derived from the systematic review conducted by Piriu et al. (2025). The review advances a framework that comprehensively maps the range of concepts, constructs and operational dimensions – measures, metrics, instruments and scales – employed within 55 empirical studies operationalising healthy ageing, each addressing at least two of the three core domains identified by the World Health Organization: intrinsic capacity (IC), functional ability (FA) and the environment (ENV). The resulting framework introduces a multilayered categorisation of healthy ageing, articulated into three domains (IC, FA, ENV), 15 sub-domains, and 84 themes. This structure is informed by conceptual and measurement considerations (e.g. subjective vs. objective categories, self-reported vs. assessed/tested) while also providing a novel, detailed organisation of the environmental factors shaping healthy ageing at different levels of analysis (micro, meso and macro). Reflecting this multidimensional structure, the dataset complements the framework by documenting the specific tools used to operationalise healthy ageing, including assessment scales, validated instruments and measurement methodologies. The framework and dataset help identify gaps in healthy ageing research, enabling new hypotheses, exploration of underrepresented areas and the development of integrative healthy ageing metrics. Their broad interdisciplinary relevance positions them as a foundational resource for the future harmonisation of healthy ageing measures, metrics and analytical approaches.
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This dataset was developed through the systematic review titled “Conceptualisation and measurement of healthy ageing: Insights from a systematic literature review” by Piriu et al. (2025). The full methodology, analysis and detailed statistics are included in the original article. Piriu, A.A., Bufali, M.V., Cappellaro, G., Compagni, A. and Torbica, A., 2025. Conceptualisation and measurement of healthy ageing: Insights from a systematic literature review. Social Science & Medicine, p.117933. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117933.
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Funding
NextGenerationEU - Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza)
Investment PE8 – Project ‘Age-It: Ageing Well in an Ageing Society’