Disengagement theory has also been criticized for overlooking the significance of social support in later life.
- According to Jerrome and Manheimer (1984), disengagement theory did not adequately consider the role of *external variables*, such as social environment and opportunities, in shaping the behavior of older adults.
- They argue that disengagement is not necessarily inevitable or desirable and that older adults can and do remain active and engaged in social life when they have the opportunity to do so.
- They also suggest that disengagement may not be a sign of psychological well-being, as the theory proposes, but rather a response to social forces that push older adults out of society.