Awareness of age-related change and its relationship with cognitive functioning and ageism

Abstract

ABSTRACT .Given ageism’s negative impacts on older adults, the theoretical model for awareness of age-related change (AARC) hypothesized that experiencing ageism may mediate the relationship of cognitive functioning to AARC. We tested this hypothesis and alternatively proposed that cognitive functioning mediated the relationship of ageism to AARC. Analyses were conducted using measures of memory and inductive reasoning for 215 older adults (66–90 years) recruited online. Significant direct effects of ageism, memory, and inductive reasoning and significant mediated effects were found in both models, with more support for cognition mediating the relationship between ageism and AARC than for ageism mediating the relationship between cognitive functioning and AARC. This study added to the literature by empirically investigating theoretically proposed antecedents of AARC. Policymakers should address ageism to support healthy aging. Findings may assist therapists working to help older adults gain insights regarding how ageism impacts cognitive functioning and awareness of age-related changes.