Age Perception Research Articles

More Balanced, Much Younger: The Relationship Between Work-Private Life Balance and Subjective Age

In this study, that aims to investigate the relationship between the work life-private life balance and the subjective age perceptions of individuals, based on the Conservation of Resources Theory, it was expected that work-life conflict (WLC) and life-work conflict (LWC) that are the dimensions of work life-private life balance (WLB) would be negatively and significantly related to individuals' levels of feeling younger than their chronological age, and work-life enrichment (WLE) would be related to this variable positively and significantly. The sample consisted of 166 women (54%) and 142 men (46%)-. The mean age of the sample was 41.20 (S=10.19) and the mean of the total working time was 18.04 (S=10.60), 92% of the sample stated that they were working full-time (n=283) and 8% of them were working part-time (n=26). The simple linear regression analyzes supported the hypotheses, and there were findings supporting that WLC and LWC can make individuals feel older than they are, and WLE can make them feel younger. The findings were discussed based on the Conservation of Resources Theory and current research on variables. Finally, practice and future research recommendations were made from the industrial/organizational psychology perspective.

Socio-economic characteristics, health status and access to health care in an elderly Moroccan community: study of the gender factor.

In Western societies, gender differences in health and health behavior are extensively documented, but less is known about gender health disparities in Morocco. Aging is not yet a research topic or a source of concern. However, the country will face significant demographic aging in the future. The purpose of this study was to investigate gender differences in indicators associated with socioeconomic status, health status, and access to health care among the elderly population of the El Jadida region in Morocco. It is a cross-sectional study on a random sample of 537 persons, aged 60 and older (136 women and 401 men) from the El Jadida region. When compared to their male counterparts, older Moroccan women face a number of disadvantages, including lower levels of education and literacy, lower levels of employment, rising rates of widowhood and living alone, and a lower likelihood of receiving formal pension benefits. In terms of health status, half of older women do not have medical coverage, almost all feel more tired, and, in discomfort, half suffer from total and central obesity, with more visual, oral, and memory health problems. Older Moroccan men, on the other hand, have greater hypertension, smoke and consume more tobacco and alcohol, and are more anxious, depressed, and insomniac. Overall, for both sexes, the perception of self-rated health status was deemed poor, with three health problems reported per person. Many other demographic, psychosocial, and economic indicators were not significantly related to gender. In Morocco, older people face a variety of problems that have a negative impact on their perception of aging. Furthermore, there are gender differences in socioeconomic status, prevalence, symptoms, and correlates of chronic diseases, health service use, and lifestyle. Longitudinal studies and immediate implementation of medical policy for this population are needed.

Societal vulnerability in the context of population aging-Perceptions of healthcare students' in Saudi Arabia.

Background and objective:Healthcare professionals have an important role in increasing awareness and protecting populations from natural disasters. This study aimed to assess the perception of healthcare students toward societal vulnerability in the context of population aging.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study conducted among students from two different health colleges over 4 months from February to May 2021. Descriptive analysis was used to assess the perception, and inferential testing was used to assess the various association of knowledge toward societal vulnerability using SPSS.ResultsThe majority of respondents were male (69.2%), between 20 and 24 years of age (91.2%), and studying for a nursing degree (76.6%). Only 4.7% had previously completed a previous degree. The mean score of perceptions on the Aging and Disaster Vulnerability Scale among nursing students was 42.5 ± 10.3 (0–65) while for paramedicine 48.1 ± 9.7 (0–65). Similarly, the mean score among male students was 44.1 ±10.5. The mean PADVS total score for the cohort was 43.8 (SD = 10.5). The mean PADVS total score for nursing students was significantly lower than paramedic students (42.5 vs. 48.1; p < 0.001). There was no correlation between PADVS total score and gender, age, area of residence, or previous degree.ConclusionOur results indicate that Saudi healthcare students perceive older adults are somewhat vulnerable to disasters with significant differences between nursing and paramedic students. Furthermore, we suggest informing emergency services disaster response planning processes about educational intervention to overcome disasters in Saudi Arabia and other countries.

A cross-sectional assessment of frailty, falls and perceptions of ageing in people living with HIV using an mHealth platform.

To evaluate frailty, falls and perceptions of ageing among clinically stable individuals with HIV, engaged with remote healthcare delivered via a novel smartphone application. This was a multi-centre European cross-sectional, questionnaire-based sub-study of EmERGE participants. Frailty was assessed using the five-item FRAIL scale. Present criteria were summed and categorized as follows: 0,robust; 1-2,pre-frail; 3-5,frail. Falls history and EQ-5D-5L quality of life measure were completed. Participants were asked their felt age and personal satisfaction with ageing. A total of 1373 participated, with a mean age of 45 (± 9.8) years. Frailty was uncommon at 2%; 12.4% fell in the previous year, 58.8% of these recurrently. Mood symptoms and pain were prevalent, at 43.3% and 31.8%, respectively. Ageing satisfaction was high at 76.4%, with 74.6% feeling younger than their chronological age; the mean felt age was 39.3 years. In multivariable analysis, mood symptoms and pain were positively associated with frailty, falls and ageing dissatisfaction. An increase in pain severity and mood symptoms were respectively associated with 34% and 63% increased odds of pre-frailty/frailty. An increment in pain symptoms was associated with a 71% increase in odds of falling. Pain was associated with ageing poorly, as were mood symptoms, with odds of dissatisfaction increasing by 34% per increment in severity. Although uncommon, frailty, falls and ageing dissatisfaction were seen in a younger cohort with medically stable HIV infection using a remote care model, promoting screening as advocated by European guidelines. These were more common in those with pain or mood symptoms, which should be proactively managed in clinical care and explored further in future research.

Ageism toward older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: Intergenerational conflict and support.

A cross‐national representative survey in Canada and the U.S. examined ageism toward older individuals during the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic, including ageist consumption stereotypes and perceptions of older people's competence and warmth. We also investigated predictors of ageism, including economic and health threat, social dominance orientation, individualism and collectivism, social distancing beliefs, and demographics. In both countries, younger adults were more likely to hold ageist consumption stereotypes, demonstrating intergenerational conflict about the resources being used by older people. Similarly, young adults provided older people with the lowest competence and warmth scores, though adults of all ages rated older individuals as more warm than competent. Particularly among younger individuals, beliefs about group‐based dominance hierarchies, the importance of competition, and the costs of social distancing predicted greater endorsement, whereas beliefs about interdependence and the importance of sacrificing for the collective good predicted lower endorsement of ageist consumption stereotypes. Support for group‐based inequality predicted lower perceived competence and warmth of older individuals, whereas beliefs about interdependence and the importance of sacrificing for the collective good predicted higher perceived competence and warmth of older individuals. Implications for policies and practices to reduce intergenerational conflict and ageist perceptions of older individuals are discussed.

How We Look At Mature Faces-An Eye-Tracking Investigation Into the Perception of Age.

It is still unclear which facial region contributes most to the perception of an aged face when evaluated by eye-tracking analyses. The authors sought to apply eye-tracking technology to identify whether mature faces require longer fixation durations than young faces and which facial region contributes most to the perception of a mature face. Eye-tracking analyses were conducted in 74 volunteers (37 males, 37 females; 43 ≤ 40 years, 31 > 40 years) evaluating their gaze pattern and the fixation durations for the entire face and 9 facial subregions. Frontal facial images of 16 younger (<40 years) and older (>40 years) gender-matched individuals were presented in a standardized setting. Independent of age or gender of the observer, a younger stimulus image was viewed shorter than an older stimulus image with 0.82 (0.63) seconds vs 1.06 (0.73) seconds with P < 0.001. There was no statistically significant difference in their duration of a stable eye fixation when observers inspected a male vs a female stimulus image [0.94 (0.70) seconds vs 0.94 (0.68) seconds; P = 0.657] independent of the observer's age or gender. The facial image that captured the most attention of the observer (rank 9) was the perioral region with 1.61 (0.73) seconds for younger observers and 1.57 (0.73) seconds for older observers. It was revealed that the perioral region attracts the most attention of observers and contributes most to an aged facial appearance. Practitioners should be mindful of the importance of the perioral region when designing an aesthetic treatment plan.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Consequences and Perceived Self-Efficacy in Women and Men Witnesses and Non-Witnesses.

Despite the numerous advances made in Italy over the years in the study of sexual harassment in the workplace (SHW), research has focused exclusively on victims, perpetrators, and their relationships, and not on the consequences that the experience of sexual harassment can produce in witnesses. The present study aims to address this gap by examining how the indirect experience of SHW, in conjunction with variables such as gender, age, self-efficacy, and coping strategies, affects the mental health status of witnesses of SHW. A sample of 724 employees completed a questionnaire that included a modified version of the Sexual Experience Questionnaire (SEQ), the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and the Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale (RESE). Of the group, 321 participants reported witnessing sexual harassment in the workplace (28.2% of women and 16.2% of men). Results show that witnesses were younger than participants who described themselves as non-witnesses. Results also show that women and men who were witnesses were more likely to suffer the emotional and psychological consequences of the experience than non-witnesses. In addition, female witnesses expressed more positive emotions than men, which enabled them to manage their anxiety and emotional states when triggered in response to sexual harassment in the workplace. Finally, a significant association was found between perceptions of mental health and age, gender, experience with SHW, and self-efficacy strategies. The findings underscore the importance of sexual harassment intervention in the workplace, women and men who witness sexual harassment suffer vicarious experiences, psychological impact, exhaustion, disengagement, and negative feelings.

Smiling makes you look older, even when you wear a mask: the effect of face masks on age perception

The widespread use of face masks in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic has promoted research on their effect on the perception and recognition of faces. There is growing evidence that masks hinder the recognition of identity and expression, as well as the interpretation of speech from facial cues. It is less clear whether and in what manner masks affect the perception of age from facial cues. Recent research has emphasized the role of the upper region of the face, a part not covered by a mask, in the evaluation of age. For example, smile-related wrinkles in the region of the eyes make smiling faces appear older than neutral faces of the same individuals (the aging effect of smiling, AES). In two experiments, we tested the effect of face masks on age evaluations of neutral and smiling faces in a range of different age groups from 20 to 80 years. The results showed that smiling faces were perceived as older than neutral faces even when individuals were wearing a face mask—and there was no effect of masks on bias in age evaluations. Additional analyses showed reduced accuracy in age evaluations for smiling compared to neutral faces and for masked compared to unmasked faces. The results converge on previous studies emphasizing the importance of the upper region of the face in evaluations of age.

Quality of life in Female Users of Antiageing Cosmetic Products/Aesthetic Treatments.

Ageing is accompanied by physical changes, both at the physiological and appearance levels. The way people perceive these changes have important consequences on general health and quality of life (QoL). This study analysed the relationship between sociodemographic variables, psychological variables, use of antiageing cosmetic products/aesthetic treatments, and QoL. This cross-sectional study included a sample of 271 women, aged between 25 and 70 years, users of antiageing cosmetic products and/or aesthetic services. Participants were assessed on psychological morbidity (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), appearance schemes (Appearance Schemas Inventory - Revised), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), perfectionism (Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale), self-perceptions of ageing (Brief Aging Perceptions Questionnaire), and QoL (SF-12v2). Being older and having a higher household income was associated with better QoL. The use of facial firming products, hair colouring products, and sunscreen was also associated with better QoL. Psychological morbidity and perfectionism contributed negatively to QoL, while household income contributed positively. Ageing perceptions moderated the relationship between self-esteem and QoL. According to the findings, intervention programs to reduce psychological morbidity, increase self-esteem, promote more adaptive patterns of perfectionism, and recognize the role of age perception are needed to improve women's QoL. The perceived influence of the usage of cosmetic products to prevent/minimize aging signs should be further explored.

Dancers and their Perception on Medical Treatment for Dance-Related Injuries

This academic paper studies Dancers perceptions on medical treatment for dance-related injuries. During the research process, trained dancers ages 14-18 in Broward County were surveyed, and data was collected about their age, years of dance experience, and opinion on medical treatment, physical therapy, or home remedies as a form of treatment for dance related injuries. Furthermore, dancers were asked if they felt doctors without a dance medicine certification had a misunderstanding of dancers injuries. Once the data was collected, the perceptions of dancers' age and years of dance experience were correlated to evaluate a pattern. The gap presented in this research was the actual perception dancers had on medical treatment compared to other methods, and their opinion on doctors without a dance medicine certification. In addition, trained dancers ages 14-18 in Broward County have yet to be surveyed which was another gap filled in my research.

Sexual Activity and Satisfaction in Older Adult Dyads: The Role of Perceptions of Aging.

This study assessed the associations between perceptions of aging (POA) and sexual frequency and satisfaction in older adult dyads. Using dyadic data from up to 1,122 different-sex married and cohabiting couples ages 50-89 (Mmen = 66.63 [7.40]; Mwomen = 64.43 [7.27]), we estimated 2 actor-partner interdependence models. We first examined the association between men's and women's POA and each partner's reports of frequency of partnered sexual activity (e.g., intercourse, oral sex, kissing, petting, and fondling). Then, we tested the link between POA and each partner's sexual satisfaction. Actor effects were detected in both models. Both men's and women's positive POA were associated with their own reports of more frequent sexual activity and greater satisfaction with their sex lives. These findings provide insight into how positive views on aging relate to older couples' sexuality. Future research should consider how attitudes shape later-life sexuality over time.

The Perceptions of Aging among Iranian Migrants: Evidence from Nevsehir, Turkey

The paper looks at perceptions of aging among elderly Iranian migrants in Nevsehir, Turkey. The author explores how socioeconomic and cultural factors and the transit migrant status of these migrants affect their perceptions of aging. The study used a semi-structured questionnaire to conduct in-depth interviews. It suggests that wage discrimination plays a significant role in determining the respondents’ perceptions of aging due to the lack of official work permits for Iranian migrants. It also explores how the transit migrant status of elderly Iranian migrants and the uncertainty of their stay in Turkey restrict their social networks and access to social protection, sharply shaping their perceptions of aging.

Awareness of age-related gains and losses as moderators of daily stress reactivity in middle- and older-adulthood.

ObjectivesAssociations between awareness of one’s own aging and wellbeing have received increasing attention in the field of gerontology over the last decade. The current study examines how between-person differences and within-person fluctuations of awareness of age-related change (AARC) relate to daily negative affect and vitality. Of key interest was the extent to which fluctuations in AARC moderated reactivity to stressor exposure. We predicted that higher positive perceptions of aging (AARC-gains) would buffer the relationship between daily stressors and negative affect/vitality. Conversely, we expected that higher negative perceptions (AARC-losses) may exacerbate the relationship between daily stressors and the outcome variables.MethodsData were collected from a community-based sample of 152 Australian adults aged 53–86 (M = 69.18, SD = 5.73). For 10 consecutive days, participants completed surveys on their smartphones measuring daily stressors, AARC, and affect (positive and negative). Bayesian hierarchical linear models were used to examine whether AARC-gains and AARC-losses moderated within-person associations of daily stressors and affect (i.e., stress reactivity).ResultsAt the between-person level, higher AARC-gains was associated with lower negative affect and higher vitality, whereas those reporting higher AARC-losses scored higher on negative affect and lower on vitality. Within-person variables revealed that on days when AARC-gains was higher and AARC-losses was lower, this corresponded with lower negative affect and higher vitality. There was no evidence in support of individual moderating effects of within-person AARC-losses or within-person AARC-gains on stress reactivity. A trend was evident in support of a three-way WP Stress severity × WP AARC-gains × WP AARC-losses interaction in the prediction of negative affect, indicating that on days when AARC-losses was higher, the association of stress severity with negative affect was weaker if AARC-gains was higher. Follow-up analyses modeling quadratic stress severity revealed a trend suggesting an interaction of within-person stress severity and within-person AARC-losses.DiscussionResults indicate that both individual differences and short-term fluctuations in AARC are associated with daily negative affect and vitality. The results provided qualified support for a possible protective role of AARC-gains in the context of stress reactivity.

Contextual and own-age effects in age perception

Our judgement of certain facial characteristics such as emotion, attractiveness or age, is affected by context. Faces that are flanked by younger faces, for example, are perceived as being younger, whereas faces flanked by older faces are perceived as being older. Here, we investigated whether contextual effects in age perception are moderated by own age effects. On each trial, a target face was presented on the screen, which was flanked by two faces. Flanker faces were either identical to the target face, were 10 years younger or 10 years older than the target face. We asked 40 older (64–69 years) and 43 younger adults (24–29) to estimate the age of the target face. Our results replicated previous studies and showed that context affects age estimation of faces flanked by target faces of different ages. These context effects were more pronounced for younger compared to older flankers but present across both tested age groups. An own-age advantage was observed for older adults for unflanked faces who had larger estimation errors for younger faces compared to older faces and younger adults. Flanker effects, however, were not moderated by own-age effects. It is likely that the increased effect of younger flankers is due to mechanisms related to perceptual averaging.

Effects of physical and mental health factors and family function on the self-perception of aging in the elderly of Chinese community.

BackgroundTo examine the effects of physical and mental health factors and family functioning on the self‐perception of ageing in elderly people.MethodsA random cluster sampling method was used to select elderly people aged over 60 from three communities in Handan City. Subjects were evaluated via face‐to‐face interviews using the Chinese version of the Ageing Perception Questionnaire, the Family Function Scale, the SF‐36 Short‐Form Health Survey, and a self‐compiled general questionnaire. A single factor and stepwise multiple regression analysis were evaluated using SPSS 17.0 software.ResultsAmong the 1815 elderly people surveyed, the total negative dimension score was 91.67 ± 16.58 with an index of 73.34%, which is higher than the positive dimension score (6.01 ± 0.52, 60.10%). Elderly people with varying degrees of family dysfunction accounted for 11.63%, and the score for self‐perceived ageing in elderly participants with good family function was 95.74 ± 12.63. The proportions with poor physical and mental health factors were 45.40% and 28.10%, respectively, and the scores for ageing self‐perception in elderly participants with good or moderate mental health were 89.11 ± 12.65 and 86.22 ± 12.58, respectively. A stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that age, presence of a spouse, and family function were positive protective factors for ageing self‐perception, while physical health factors were risk factors for the positive dimension of self‐perceived ageing. Age and family function were risk factors for the negative dimension of ageing self‐perception, while physical and mental health factors were protective factors for the negative dimension of self‐perceived ageing.ConclusionsYounger elderly and elderly people with good family function have positive self‐perceptions of ageing, while elderly participants with poor physical and mental health have a negative perception of ageing.

Frailty: understanding the difference between age and ageing.

In the past, illness and dependence were viewed as inevitable consequences of old age. Now, we understand that there is a difference between age (the passing of chronological time) and ageing (the increased risk of adverse outcomes over time). Over the last 50 years, 'frailty' research has established that ageing is heterogeneous, variable and malleable. Significant advances have been made in frailty measurement (description of clinical features and development of clinical models), mechanisms (insights into pathogenesis) and management (development of interventions to reduce and/or prevent progression). Subsequently, the concept of frailty has informed health policy and clinical practice and started to change perceptions of older age held by the general public and the health sector. Here, we overview key achievements in frailty research and clinical practice and highlight the considerable number of known unknowns that may be addressed in the future.

Assessment of Quality of Life in Coronary Artery Disease Patients Using who QOL Bref

Study Objective: The objective of my study is assess the quality of life in coronary artery disease patients using WHO QoL BREF and to identify the different variables and factors which are affecting the quality of life in CAD patients in our population in general and the economic progress of the country in particular. Material &amp; Methods: The study design will be cross-sectional and purposive sampling technique will be used. The study population will be the patients presenting in cardiology OPD of Shalamar hospital &amp; Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore. Inclusion criteria will be the patients of both sexes above 30 years and exclusion criteria will be the patients with ailments other than coronary artery diseases. Results: A total of 611 CAD patients includes in for the research. 305 from Public &amp; 306 from private hospital. Mean age was 56 years out of which 377 (61.7%) were male patients and 234 (38.3%) were females. Out of 611 patients that were included in the study 19 (3.1%) rated their quality of life very poor; 265 (43.4%) poor; 200 (32.7%) neither poor nor good &amp; 127 (20.8%) good. Conclusion: The study showed life’s quality and general wellbeing, with the majority of patients having a "poor" life’s quality . The relationship among quality of life and patients' perceptions of health and age was statistically significant.

The association of physical activity with loneliness, social isolation, and selected psychological protective factors among older adults

The primary objectives were to investigate the association of physical activity levels with 1) loneliness and social isolation; 2) protective factors: resilience, purpose-in-life, and perception of aging; and 3) the impact of these factors on healthcare expenditure patterns across physical activity levels. The study sample was identified from adults age ≥65 who completed a health survey in 2018 or 2019 (N=6,652). Among survey respondents, the prevalence of low, moderate, and high physical activity levels was 29%, 31%, and 41%, respectively. Moderate and high physical activity were associated with 15%-30% lower likelihoods of loneliness and social isolation; and with 27% to 150% higher protective factors. In addition, physical activity was associated with the mitigation of increased healthcare expenditures associated with loneliness, social isolation, and low levels of protective factors. Thus, physical activity could serve as an intervention to reduce loneliness and social isolation, augment protective factors, and mitigate excess healthcare expenditures.

Examining the Role of Aging Perceptions in Subjective Cognitive Decline.

While subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is gaining ground as a "preclinical" risk state for Alzheimer disease, its utility depends on our understanding of the factors linked to SCD. Rarely examined sociocultural factors including perceptions of aging may relate to the subjective experience of cognitive aging. Identifying such associations will help to refine the utility of SCD as an early marker of AD while setting the stage for addressing modifiable factors contributing to SCD. The study consisted of N=136 participants (68% female; 73% White; 22% Black race, age mean =74.72; education mean =16.01). Questionnaires assessed SCD, depressive symptoms, and age perceptions (essentialist aging beliefs, subjective age, age group identification, and explicit/implicit age stereotypes). Cognitive functioning was measured with a semantic interference and learning task. SCD was correlated with essentialist aging beliefs, age identification, and depressive symptoms [ rrange =0.18 to 0.22, Prange =0.009 to 0.02, confidence interval (CI) range =0.00-0.39]. Essentialist aging beliefs were correlated with subjective age and age group identification ( rrange =0.22 to 0.42, Prange <0.001 to 0.003, CI range =0.08-0.57). Both age group identification and essentialism were correlated with depressive symptoms ( rrange =0.22, Prange =0.009 to 0.01, CI range =0.04-0.39). In the adjusted regression model including depressive symptoms, age perceptions, and SCD, only SCD was associated with cognition ( b =-0.31, P <0.001). Although correlated with SCD, perceptions of aging do not explain the relationship between SCD and performance on a sensitive cognitive test among older adults.

Remotely Administered Resilience- and Wisdom-Focused Intervention to Reduce Perceived Stress and Loneliness: Pilot Controlled Clinical Trial in Older Adults

Older adults are vulnerable to perceived stress and loneliness, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We previously reported inverse relationships between loneliness/perceived stress and wisdom/resilience. There are few evidence-based tele-health interventions for older adults. We tested a new remotely-administered manualized resilience- and wisdom-focused behavioral intervention to reduce perceived stress and loneliness in older adults. This pilot controlled clinical trial used a multiple-phase-change single-case experimental design, with three successive 6-week phases: control, intervention, and follow-up periods. The intervention included six once-a-week one-hour sessions. Participants were 20 adults >65 years, without dementia. All 20 participants completed every session. The study indicated feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. While the sample was too small for demonstrating efficacy, there was a reduction (small-to-medium effect size) in perceived stress and loneliness, and increase in resilience, happiness, and components of wisdom and positive perceptions of aging. These preliminary data support feasibility, acceptability, and possible efficacy of a remotely-administered resilience- and wisdom-focused intervention in older adults to reduce stress and loneliness.