REFLECTIONS Positive Approaches to Coping with the Challenges of Ageing: Research Priorities Steven M. Shardlow & Tina L. Rochelle & Sik Hung Ng & Jamuna Duvvuru & Elsie Ho & Honglin Chen Received: 1 September 2010 / Accepted: 18 March 2011 / Published online: 21 April 2011 # National Academy of Psychology (NAOP) India 2011 Abstract This article identifies research priorities in respect of the social dimension of ageing. Three areas are explored; ageing in one's own community; ageing in another community as a consequence of migration and ageing in a residential community. Exemplar research studies, conducted by the authors (singly) are presented briefly and contextualised in the literature to reveal key research priorities. The determination of research priorities should take account of those aspects of social functioning that are associated with factors amenable to change. Key research priorities identified include the development of a better understanding of the importance of social networks; how these are created, maintained to promote the successful social ageing of individuals. Keywords Ageing . Research priorities . Social network . Community . Residential care . Hong Kong . India . New Zealand . Chinese During the second half of the twentieth century many countries across the globe have experienced unparalleled declines in mortality and fertility. Correspondingly, the number of young people is falling; consequently the age structure is in rapid transition from young to old. It is accepted that many parts of the world face major demographic change as the population ages and older people become a larger proportion of the population. The decline in physical functioning and the loss of social role are known to impact negatively on the individual in the ageing process. The changing age structure of the popula- tion provides an opportunity from which society could potentially benefit. Given a favourable policy environment, an increase in the proportion of the working age population, resulting from the age structure transition, can contribute significantly to economic growth. A greater proportion of midlife and elderly people, together with a higher life expectancy generally imply heavier demands on health and social services. If health and social services are already stretched with current demand of the midlife and elderly population around the globe, how are these services expected to cope in coming years with further increases to the midlife and elderly population? S. M. Shardlow (*) School of Social Work, Psychology and Public Health, The University of Salford, Allerton Building, Salford, Greater Manchester M6 6 PU, UK e-mail: s.m.shardlow@salford.ac.uk T. L. Rochelle (*) : S. H. Ng Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong e-mail: rochelle@cityu.edu.hk S. H. Ng e-mail: sikhung.ng@cityu.edu.hk J. Duvvuru Department of Psychology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati 517 502, India e-mail: agi2008tirupati@gmail.com E. Ho School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand e-mail: e.ho@auckland.nz H. Chen Fudan University, Shanghai, China e-mail: chen.honglin@gmail.com Psychol Stud (July–September 2011) 56(3):295–303 DOI 10.1007/s12646-011-0081-2