Comment. ‘I don’t feel old': The significance of the search for meaning in later life

A critique of the study of ageing by social scientists is provided in this article, on the basis of the comparative neglect of life history studies across the whole lifespan. It points to the skewed nature of studies reported in the literature. As a corrective, results from a UK life history based study are presented. It focuses on work, leisure, grandparenting, and intimate relationships between adults, leading to conclusions about the factors determining later life experiences and self‐perceptions of the meaning of old age.