Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, University College London, Hampstead Campus, London NW3 2PF, UK

Address correspondence to: A. Bowling, Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, University College London, Hampstead Campus, London NW3 2PF, UK. Tel: (+44) 207 830 2239; Fax: (+44) 207 794 1224. Email: a.bowling@ucl.ac.uk

Objective: to identify perceptions of, and associations with, active ageing among ethnically diverse and homogeneous samples of older people in Britain.

Design and setting: cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys of older people living at home in Britain.

Measures: active ageing, health, psych-social, socio-economic circumstances, and indicators of quality of life.

Results: respondents defined active ageing as having health, fitness, and exercise; psychological factors; social roles and activities; independence, neighbourhood and enablers. The ethnically diverse sample respondents were less likely to define active ageing as having physical health and fitness, and were less likely to rate themselves as ageing actively, than more homogeneous sample respondents. The lay-based measure of quality of life used was independently and consistently associated with self-rated active ageing in each sample

Conclusion: Policy models of active ageing were reflected in lay views, although the latter had a more multidimensional focus. Lay definitions of active ageing were also more dynamic, compared with definitions of quality of life and successful ageing. Differences in self-rated active ageing and perceptions of this concept by ethnic group need further exploration.

Keywords: active ageing, ethnicity, old age, quality of life, successful ageing, elderly