Concurrent associations between objective markers and subjective markers of aging with indicators of successful aging: An integrative approach.

BackgroundMost hypertensive clients are elderly, whose health-related quality of life (HRQL) may be associated with self-perceptions of aging (older individuals’ beliefs about their own aging). Meanwhile, culture and health disparities between rural and urban populations are substantial. Whether there are differences in self-perceptions of aging, HRQL, and their association among elderly hypertensive clients in urban and rural areas remains unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate and compare self-perceptions of aging and HRQL and their association among urban and rural older Chinese hypertensive clients.MethodsA cross-sectional investigation was conducted in 15 urban community clinics and 22 village clinics from Suzhou, China. Older hypertensive adults were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire addressing socio-demographic and clinical information, HRQL and self-perceptions of aging.ResultsThere were 492 urban participants and 537 rural participants included in the analyses. The physical (40.0 ± 12.1 vs. 30.9 ± 8.9, P < 0.001) and mental (51.5 ± 8.3 vs. 46.0 ± 7.8, P < 0.001) HRQL scores of urban participants were all higher than those of rural ones. Urban participants’ scores on dimensions of “timeline cyclical”, “consequences negative”, and “control negative” of self-perceptions of aging questionnaire (APQ) were lower than those of rural participants (P < 0.001, respectively), while the scores on dimensions of “consequences positive” and “control positive” were higher (P < 0.001, respectively). Adjusted multivariate linear regression showed that participants who had worse self-perceptions of aging had poorer HRQL. Some APQ dimensions associated with urban or rural hypertensive elders’ HRQL were different.ConclusionsOlder hypertensive clients in rural areas have poorer self-perceptions of aging and HRQL than those in urban areas. Health care professionals should pay more attention to HRQL and self-perceptions of aging of older hypertensive clients in rural areas.

Our thoughts and beliefs about our own aging, known as self-perceptions of aging, are found to greatly impact our health and well-being across the lifespan (Wurm et al., 2015). A large body of research suggests that positive and negative views on aging are associated with long-term health benefits and detriments, respectively. According to stereotype embodiment theory, stereotypes are incrementally internalized across the lifespan, forming our aging stereotypes, which then become self-stereotypes once we identify as older adults, eventually shaping our self-perceptions of aging (Levy, 2003b, 2009). Based on the postulates of this theory, it is unclear how individuals develop positive self-perceptions of aging when negative aging stereotypes are more prevalent than positive stereotypes in most societies. Two studies were conducted to understand how the internalization of negative aging stereotypes can potentially be reduced and identify factors associated with longitudinal changes in positive and negative self-perceptions of aging. Using cross-sectional data from 612 U.S. citizens over the age of 60, Study 1 found that having a weak identification with the older adult social category or having positive affect towards the older adult social category was related to a weaker relationship between the negative aging stereotypes and the negative self-stereotypes endorsed by individuals. In addition, having more positive aging experiences was related to a weaker relationship between the two types of stereotypes. Thus, it appears that our identity and lived experiences may attenuate the degree to which negative stereotypes are internalized. Utilizing parallel process growth curve models on four waves of data from the German Aging Study, Study 2 analyzed the average growth trajectories of positive and negative self-perceptions of aging and the factors associated with the growth trajectories. Differences in the development of self-perceptions of aging between middle- (40-59 years old), third- (60-74 years old), and fourth-aged adults (75 years old and higher) were also explored. Study 2 found that, on average, positive self-perceptions of aging declined linearly, while negative self-perceptions of aging increased linearly across measurement occasions. However, the opposite pattern was found for middle-aged adults. Furthermore, the intercept and slope of positive self-perceptions of aging were inversely related to the intercept and slope of negative self-perceptions of aging. Additionally, the intercept and slope within both perceptions of aging were inversely correlated, meaning that higher baseline positive self-perceptions of aging were related to steeper decreases in these self-perceptions across time, and higher baseline negative self-perceptions of aging were related to shallower increases in these views on aging across measurement occasions. Beyond replicating certain findings from past studies, Study 2 uniquely identified satisfaction with life, older age identification, and perceived age discrimination as factors associated with the development of self-perceptions of aging. Moreover, when comparing results from parallel process growth curve models specific to each phase of adulthood, it was found that the factors most strongly associated with the development of self-perceptions of aging differed between the three age groups. Such differences suggest that future interventions aimed at enhancing self-perceptions of aging may be maximized if tailored to the participants' ages. However, with life satisfaction and depressive symptoms related to better and worse self-perceptions of aging for each age group, respectively, public policies designed to support mental health may be best for enhancing self-perceptions of aging at the population-level. The findings from this dissertation further our empirical understanding of how self-perceptions of aging are internalized and develop across time. While stereotype embodiment theory has postulated that the harmfulness of negative aging stereotypes is more salient when one identifies as an older adult, Study 2 was the first to provide longitudinal evidence for the damaging association between older adult identification and self-perceptions of aging. However, results from Study 1 suggest the nuances of social identity must be taken into account as holding positive in-group affect may reduce the harm associated with identifying as an older adult. Additionally, whereas past research has found positive and negative self-perceptions of aging to be independent constructs, the use of parallel process growth curve models in Study 2 revealed that the development of the two are related. Lastly, Study 2 was the first to the author's knowledge to identify middle age as a period of life associated with the development of more positive and less negative self-perceptions of aging. Findings from the two studies provide evidence for how positive self-perceptions of aging can develop in light of ageism's pervasiveness and begin to suggest avenues for the creation of interventions to bolster self-perceptions of aging.

ObjectiveNegative self-perceptions of ageing are associated with decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults. We sought to characterise the association of self-perceptions of ageing, both positive and negative, with pain, depression and self-reported disability and frailty status in middle-aged and older adults with SLE.MethodsWe enrolled adults ≥50 years with validated SLE in a single-centre cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic characteristics and disease features were self-reported. Self-perceptions of ageing were assessed using awareness of age-related change (AARC). We assessed patient-reported outcomes, disability and frailty status using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 29-Item Profile (PROMIS-29), Valued Life Activities and Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illness, Loss of Weight Scale. Associations between AARC gains (ie, positive self-perception of ageing) and losses (ie, negative self-perception of ageing) and pain interference, depression, disability and frailty status (frail ≥3/5 criteria) were assessed using linear or logistic regression and adjusted for age, race, ethnicity, and SLE disease activity and organ damage.ResultsParticipants (n=80) were mostly female (95.0%) with mean age and SLE duration of 63.2 (SD=8.5) years and 23.1 (SD=14.5) years, respectively. Mean PROMIS-29 T-scores for pain interference and depression were 54.6 (SD=10.1) and 49.8 (SD=8.5), respectively; 29.9% were frail. After covariate adjustment, AARC losses, but not gains were significantly associated with pain interference (ß coefficient 0.94, 95% CI 0.33 to 1.54, p<0.01), depression (ß coefficient 0.67, 95% CI 0.04 to 1.30, p=0.04) and frailty (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.30 to 3.37, p<0.01). After covariate adjustment, both AARC gains (ß coefficient −0.07, 95% CI −0.09 to –0.02, p<0.01) and losses (ß coefficient 0.08, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.12, p<0.01) were statistically significantly associated with disability.ConclusionsNegative self-perception of ageing was independently associated with decreased HRQoL among middle-aged and older adults with SLE. Addressing negative self-perceptions of ageing may improve HRQoL in this population.

Individual self-perception of aging (SPA) is shaped by socio-cultural experiences across life stages and may affect emotional well-being in late adulthood. However, the association between SPA and emotional well-being in Hispanic older adults (HOA), as well as the contextual factors affecting this association, has not been explored. We aimed to (1) investigate the relationship between HOAs’ SPA and life satisfaction, one of emotional well-being indicators and (2) test the moderating effects of spousal relationships and relationship quality with children. We analyzed data of 143 HOAs from the Health and Retirement Study collected in 2016-2020. SPA was measured using the Attitudes Toward Own Aging (ATOA), and life satisfaction was measured using The Satisfaction with Life scale. Spousal relationship was assessed based on perceived closeness with spouses, and relationship quality with children was evaluated by the frequency of contact with children. The two moderation models were tested using SPSS PROCESS Macro. HOAs with more positive SPA were likely to have higher life satisfaction (r=.231, p&amp;lt;.01). In HOAs with less frequent contact with children, the more positive SPA, the higher life satisfaction they had. In contrast, in HOAs with more frequent contact with children, the more positive SPA, the lower life satisfaction they had (B=-.235, p&amp;lt;.05). There was no moderating effect of spousal relationships. This study highlights HOAs’ SPA and emotional well-being and showed frequent contact with children may have a negative effect on emotional well-being. Future research is expected to continue exploring the associations among HOA’s SPA, health/well-being indicators, and contextual factors.

A growing body of literature demonstrates the public health impacts of negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA). However, minimal research has explored mediating mechanisms as well as which lifestyle activities may influence SPA. Based on theory and prior research in successful aging, this study explored the impact of lifestyle activities on SPA and tested self-efficacy as a mediator between lifestyle activities and SPA. This study analyzed cross-sectional data from the psychosocial module in the 2018 wave of the Health and Retirement study (N = 2,675; mean age = 65.67/ SD = 9.95). Eight SPA items (e.g., “Things keep getting worse as I get older”) were derived from the Attitudes Toward Own Aging subscale of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale. 10 items measure self-efficacy on a 6-point Likert-type scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree. 21 lifestyle activities covering physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual domains were dichotomized into whether respondents participate at least monthly. Multiple regression analyses were utilized. Results indicate that self-efficacy explained 23% of the variance in SPA while holding constant age, gender, and functional ability. Sobel’s test showed that self-efficacy mediated the relationship between lifestyle activities and SPA. Exercise explained the most variance in SPA, followed by computer use and volunteering. Building upon successful aging literature, this study demonstrates the impact of self-efficacy and helps distinguish which lifestyle activities may be most effective in improving SPA. In addition to individual-level lifestyle activities, the impact of structural interventions on SPA should be tested in future research.

BackgroundThis study examines to what extent education, occupation and income are associated with the multidimensional process of successful ageing, encompassing trajectories of physical, mental and social functioning in old age.MethodsWe...

Self-perceptions of aging, important indicators of successful aging, are closely linked to health. Previous research has mainly examined the role of individual factors on self-perceptions of aging, but health is partly dependent on contextual factors such as primary care supply. This study therefore examined whether the impact of diseases on self-perceptions of aging is buffered by primary care supply in the district, as it ensures sustained health care continuity. Nationally representative German survey data on health and self-perceptions of aging (N = 4,442, 40-85 years) were linked to primary care supply (general practitioner density in regional districts). Multilevel modeling shows that the impact of disease burden (multiple illnesses) was buffered by primary care supply: Disease burden was less strongly associated with negative self-perceptions of aging in districts with good primary health care supply. This underlines the importance of health care resources for successful aging.

Effectiveness of a salutogenic intervention on self-perception of aging and sense of coherence for community-dwelling older adults: A quasi-experimental study.

What's missing in sex chromosome aneuploidies? Representation and inclusion

Research has extensively documented the concurrent benefits of being a volunteer (vs a nonvolunteer), but little is known about older adults who once served as a volunteer but then stopped at some point in their lives (i.e., former volunteers). The current study tracked changes in older adults' overall life satisfaction and compared these changes among former volunteers, continuous volunteers, and continuous nonvolunteers. We also examined whether self-perceptions of aging may serve as a long-term psychological buffer and protect former volunteers' life satisfaction after they quit volunteering. Data were from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2016). A pooled sample of participants aged 50+ (N = 10,441) indicated volunteer behaviors every other year, and we identified volunteering dynamics based on their volunteering history across 4 waves (8 years). Participants reported on self-perceptions of aging and life satisfaction in the Leave Behind Questionnaire once every 4 years. Continuous volunteers reported greater subsequent life satisfaction than former volunteers and continuous nonvolunteers 4 years later, when we adjusted for their baseline life satisfaction. Yet, the difference between continuous volunteers and former volunteers was absent among participants with more positive self-perceptions of aging. This study reveals a potential discontinuity in the benefits of volunteering as older adults transition out of their volunteer activities. Findings, however, also reveal individual differences by self-perceptions of aging, offering suggestive evidence that may refine interventions to prolong the benefits of volunteering.

Objectives Studies assessing the effects of ageism on older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic suggest that perceiving ageism is associated with lower self-reported mental and physical health. Yet, it remains unknown whether these pandemic associations are distinct from pre-pandemic associations. The present study addressed this issue by controlling for pre-pandemic levels of ageism and mental and physical health in order to assess which pandemic-era experiences of ageism predict well-being in older people. Method Both prior to and during the pandemic, 117 older adults completed measures of perceived ageism, self-perceptions of aging, subjective age, subjective health, and life satisfaction. Results During the pandemic, perceived ageism predicted lower subjective health and life satisfaction. However, when controlling for pre-pandemic measures, perceived ageism during the pandemic predicted only subjective health but not life satisfaction. Perceptions of continued growth positively predicted both measures across most analyses. Conclusion The present findings suggest caution when interpreting the effects of ageism on well-being during the pandemic, as those associations may already have existed pre-pandemic. The finding that perceptions of continued growth positively predicted subjective health and life satisfaction suggests that promoting more positive self-perceptions of aging, along with combatting ageism in society, may represent important policy objectives.

BackgroundOlder adults are more likely to undergo changes in their physical appearance and health condition than younger people. These changes may relate to how they view their bodies and themselves, and may also be associated with differences in levels of life satisfaction. While many previous studies have focused on disease burden and functional limitations, this study examines the statistical association between body appreciation and life satisfaction from the perspective of positive body experience. It also investigates the mediating roles of self-acceptance and self-perceptions of aging in this relationship.MethodsThis study surveyed 605 older adults aged 60–80 using standardized scales to measure body appreciation, self-acceptance, self-perceptions of aging, and life satisfaction. A parallel mediation model was constructed and tested.ResultsAfter controlling for several demographic factors, body appreciation was positively related to life satisfaction. Self-acceptance played a mediating role between the two. Self-perceptions of aging did not show an independent mediating effect in the model.ConclusionPositive body experiences and self-attitudes among older adults are positively related to higher life satisfaction. These findings provide references for the design of supportive services for older adults in community and health service settings.

Objective indicators of cognitive decline, immune function and inflammation are used as objective markers of aging (OMAs) to predict an individuals aging success. Individuals beliefs and evaluations of their own age and aging, like subjective age have been found to significantly impact longevity and health in old age, making them psychological markers of aging (PMAs). However, studies rarely consider PMAs alongside OMAs when predicting successful aging related outcomes. Our study aims to concurrently predict autonomous daily functioning (IADL), health-related quality of life (hQoL) and life satisfaction (LS) using OMAs of cognitive aging (trail making test), inflammation (interleukin-6, c-reactive protein), and immune aging (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) as well as PMAs, specifically subjective age and future self-views. To this end, we used cross-sectional data from 456 older adults (Md age = 74 years, 60-86 years) from the LIFE Adult Study and predicted the respective outcome by hierarchical linear regression, while controlling for socio-demographic factors. The results show that OMAs of cognitive function predicted IADL (ß = -0.15, p &amp;lt; .05) and OMAs of inflammation predicted hQoL (ß = -0.10, p &amp;lt; .05) but no OMA significantly predicted LS. Subjective age (ß = -0.17, p &amp;lt; .05) and future self-views (ß = 0.15, p &amp;lt; .05) predicted LS, but did not predict IADL. Future self-views (ß = 0.27, p &amp;lt; .001) but not subjective age was associated with hQoL. Our results suggest that fundamental biological aging pathways and psychological constructions of age are selectively associated with specific form of success in old age.

Successful aging may be a solution to the major challenges that population aging poses to healthcare systems, financial security, and labor force supply. Hence, we studied the value of factors discovered by exploratory factor analysis in predicting four main indicators of successful aging, and their association with mortality. We followed-up a nationally representative sample of 1284 older adults for a median of 50 months. Successful aging was defined by fast walking, independence, emotional vitality, and self-rated health. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five determinants: physical activity, life satisfaction and financial status, health status, stress, and cognitive function. Physical activity and health status were significant factors in living independently. Life satisfaction and financial status were associated with walking speed. Stress was solely associated with emotional vitality. Life satisfaction and financial status, and health status, were important predictors of self-rated health. Compared to people without any successful aging indicators, those with one, two, three, or four showed dose-dependent lessening of mortality risk, with respective hazard ratios of 0.39 (95% CI 0.25–0.59), 0.29 (95% CI 0.17–0.50), 0.23 (95% CI 0.11–0.51), and 0.09 (95% CI 0.01–0.66). These associations were stronger in males, older adults, smokers, and drinkers, than in their counterparts.

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