An analysis of the status and role of medical psychology in the disciplinary construction of gerontology

Against the backdrop of intensifying global population aging, the health needs of older adults have extended from a sole focus on physical health to multidimensional areas such as psychological well-being and social adaptation. As a pivotal discipline bridging clinical medicine and psychology, the deep integration of medical psychology with gerontology serves as the core pathway to remedying inadequacies in elderly health services and establishing a full-scope elderly health system, which also constitutes the core research objective of this paper. At present, the integration of the 2 disciplines is confronted with multiple practical obstacles, manifested mainly in the absence of interdisciplinary collaboration mechanisms, a disjuncture between talent cultivation and real-world demands, and insufficient social awareness and policy support, all of which directly impede disciplinary advancement and practical implementation. Such dilemmas are rooted in institutional barriers to cross-disciplinary integration, structural defects in the talent system, and systemic dysfunctions in incentive mechanisms. Accordingly, this paper proposes to address the integration dilemma through systematic thinking. By breaking disciplinary boundaries, building collaborative platforms, optimizing the training system for interdisciplinary professionals, and strengthening top-level institutional and policy safeguards, the deep integration of medical psychology and gerontology can be promoted systematically, so as to ultimately form a comprehensive elderly health service system covering physical, psychological, and social dimensions that matches the diverse health needs of the aging society.