Fear Of Aging Research Articles

The fear of old age: a survey of adults in the UK

ABSTRACT Increases in life expectancy have contributed to the growing numbers of older adults in our society. There has been a corresponding increase in ageism with many people holding negative attitudes toward older adults and old age. This can result in poor outcomes both for older adults themselves and for those who espouse those attitudes. Older adults may be ostracized, whilst those who hold negative attitudes are more likely to experience poor physical and mental health as they age. This is detrimental not only to individuals but also to society. A survey of adults (n = 3252) aged between 35 and 75 in the UK was conducted to explore the prevalence of the fear of old age, attitudes toward it and factors that influence it. Results showed high levels of fear, influenced by the demographic variables of gender, age, health and parenthood as well as personality traits, religious faith and contact with older people. Previous research, suggesting that being a younger adult, being female, being high in neuroticism and being in poor health predicted high levels of fear, was supported. Other factors that were expected to mitigate the fear of old age – having regular contact with older adults, being a parent and holding religious beliefs – were found to increase it. It was concluded that further research is needed to explore these findings further.

The effect of loneliness on fear of aging: Mediated by social support

ABSTRACT The study aimed to examine the relationships between loneliness, perceived support and fear of old age, to determine how they differ according to some socio-demographic variables and of loneliness to reveal the mediating role of perceived social support in the effect on fear of old age. In the descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between November 2023 and January 2024, the Loneliness Orientation Scale (LOS), Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS) and Fear of Old Age Scale (FOS) were used. Correlational analysis was used in the analysis of data collected from 611 participants aged 18–65 with two-stage sampling, T-test and ANOVA were used in the comparison of means, and the Hayes’ PROCESS macro was used to determine the mediating role of perceived social support. Women, singles, young people, those with low education and income fear old age more. There is a positive correlation between loneliness and fear of aging, and a negative correlation between these two and perceived social support. As a result, perceived social support is a partial mediator in the effect of loneliness on fear of old age and it should be considered as an effective source in reducing fear of old age.

The Psychopathological Predictors and Effects of Death Anxiety.

Death anxiety has been linked to several psychopathological conditions. However, the causes, comorbidity, and differential diagnosis of death anxiety is unexplored. This paper stands out by identifying common predictors of death anxiety and exploring the potential of death anxiety as a predictor for other psychological conditions. The paper reports the findings of four consecutive studies that involved a total of 2291 conveniently selected participants including 861 men and 1430 women. We focused on clarifying both the predictors of death anxiety and the psychopathological consequences emerging from it. Our findings established depression, anxiety, stress, fear of aging, and reduced life satisfaction as predictors of death anxiety. Psychosocial illness, sleep disturbances, aggression, and daily hassles were established as the adverse outcomes of death anxiety. Fear of aging was the most significant predictor of death anxiety and daily hassles emerged as the most significant adverse consequence of death anxiety.

A Fictional Depiction of the Peculiarities of the African Female Gender Experiences in the Diaspora

The issue of Africans in the Diaspora stretches historically to the time when Africa began having contact with the outside world, particularly the Arabs, Chinese, Turks, and others. Beginning with the 16th to the 18th C, the contacts heightened during the Trans- Atlantic Slave Trade. Thereafter, Africans have found themselves in the Diaspora for many reasons. This has elicited a myriad of reactions to their experiences in the Diaspora. Therefore, the study sought to investigate the fictional depiction of African immigrant experiences in the Diaspora. It was guided by two objectives namely: to establish the fictional depiction of the peculiarities of the African female experiences in the Diaspora, and to investigate the narrative styles adopted to convey these experiences. The focus was on four novels: Americanah (2013), Minaret (2005), We Need New Names (2013), and The Seasons of Thomas Tebo (1986). The study was library-based research. Its significance is in the fact that it gives a snapshot of the two sides of migration- positive and negative. The results revealed that the African female gender faces indescribable discrimination, undergoes the pain of assimilation into the foreign culture, has to work two jobs in order to sustain life in the Diaspora, is always haunted by the fear of aging and having nothing to show for it, plus several other challenges. The diasporic spaces also catalyse character changes in these migrants. As a result, they adopt confusing mannerisms, fail to wish away homesickness, become two-faced hypocrites, are subdued, submissive and in extreme cases – go through a mental breakdown. It was discovered that migrant fiction is narrated through humour, flashback, irony, detailed description, suspense and other stylistic techniques. The study concluded that migration is now a contemporary and central theme in much of African fiction, especially by a new generation of African writers

Страхи перед старением: к вопросу о мобилизующей роли

в статье освещается проблематика страхов перед старением и рассматриваются возможности их преодоления. Статья основана на социологических исследованиях, проводимых различными научными сообществами, в отношении восприятия респондентами собственного старения и тревог, связанных с изменением социального статуса, ухудшением здоровья, снижением благосостояния и т. п. Старость и старение рассматриваются как феномены общественного сознания, актуализирующиеся как в связи с демографическим старением населения, так и с неоднозначностью восприятия старости как социального явления. Обращается внимание на феномен неприятия собственного старения, а также на деструктивные последствия этого неприятия. Страхи перед старением рассматриваются в контексте надвигающихся утрат по линии «экономика – здоровье – взаимодействие». Приведённые результаты исследований демонстрируют в целом невысокий уровень страха перед старением у респондентов, однако этот страх сильно дифференцирован по охвату различных сфер жизни. Среди механизмов преодоления страхов старения респонденты наиболее склонны отмечать экономические (накопления, инвестиции) и медико-социальные (забота о здоровье), однако в меньшей степени оценивают значимость расширения социального взаимодействия. Констатируется необходимость не только развития социальной политики в отношении старшего поколения, но и формирования социально-культурных прерогатив, идентифицирующих позитивную роль пожилых людей в социуме. the article highlights the problems of fears of aging and examines the possibilities of overcoming them. The article is based on sociological research conducted by various scientific communities regarding respondents' perception of their own aging and worries related to changes in social status, deterioration of health, decrease in well-being, etc. Old age and aging are considered as phenomena of public consciousness, actualized both in connection with the demographic aging of the population and the ambiguity of the perception of old age as a social phenomena. Attention is drawn to the phenomenon of rejection of one's own aging, as well as to the destructive consequences of this rejection. Fears of aging are considered in the context of impending losses along the line of "economy – health – interaction". The above research results demonstrate a generally low level of fear of aging among respondents, but this fear is highly differentiated in terms of coverage of various spheres of life. Among the mechanisms for overcoming fears of aging, respondents are most likely to note economic (savings, investments) and medico-social (health care), but to a lesser extent they assess the importance of expanding social interaction. The necessity is stated not only for the development of social policy towards the older generation, but also for the formation of socio-cultural prerogatives identifying the positive role of older people in society.

Aktiivinen ikääntyminen kuntien vanhuspoliittisten ohjelmien retoriikassa

Active ageing in the rhetoric of municipal strategies for older people In this article we study how active ageing is manifested in the rhetoric of municipal strategies for older people. Active ageing has been seen as a political solution for the challenges of ageing, which makes it important to analyze it in the context of policy documents. We study these strategies by applying Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca’s new rhetoric. According to our results, active ageing can be seen as model ageing (Timonen 2016), and different features concerning activity are associated with ageing, while some features, such as fear of ageing and seeing older adults only as users of social and health services, are dissociated from ageing. The role of society is important in supporting active ageing with the help of age-friendly environment and services.

The relationship between fear of old age, loneliness and death anxiety in adults.

The increase in the number of elderly people in the world, individuals' perspectives on older adults, and false beliefs and ideas about old age negatively affect adults in terms of ageing. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between fear of old age, loneliness and death anxiety in adults. This study, which was designed in a correlational cross-sectional descriptive model, was conducted with 1074 adult individuals living in one province in eastern Turkey. Data were collected using Personal Information Form, Fear of Old Age Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale and Turkish Death Anxiety Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0, AMOS 24.0, G*Power 3.1 statistical package programs. In our study, it was determined that the model created in line with the hypotheses was compatible and the model fit indices were within the desired limits as χ2 /df = 4.737, root mean square error of approximation = 0.05, comparative fit index = 0.93, goodness-of-fit index = 0.92, adjusted goodness-of-fit index = 0.90, IFI = 0.93. There is a significant relationship between loneliness and death anxiety (P < 0.05). There is a significant relationship between loneliness and fear of old age (P < 0.05). There is a significant relationship between death anxiety and fear of old age (P < 0.05). It was determined that death anxiety has a mediating role in the effect of loneliness on fear of old age (95% confidence interval: 0.112-0.226; P < 0.05). As the level of loneliness increases, the level of death anxiety and fear of old age increases. Fear of old age also increases in the mediating role of death anxiety. It is recommended to conduct intervention studies to reduce fear of old age. Longitudinal study on fear of old age is recommended.

Originalbeiträge (Originals). Unterscheidet sich der therapeutische Stil in altershomogenen und altersheterogenen therapeutischen Dyaden?

Differences between age-homogeneous and age-heterogeneous therapeutic dyads have rarely been the subject of research.The present study aimed to investigate differences in therapeutic style (Healing and Stressful Involvement). A sample of 527 questionnaires completed by therapists of different ages was available. Therapy style was compared between two patient groups (under 40 and over 65 years old) and three therapist groups (25-39, 40-59, ≥ 60). The results show in particular more stress experienced by younger therapists in the treatment of older patients, while older therapists report less stress.There were no or fewer differences in the treatment of younger patients.The regression-analytical results show that the experience of stress in the therapy of older people is associated with a greater fear of old age. Finally, some conclusions are discussed with regard to training and supervision of therapists in the treatment of older people.

The characteristics of online gerontophobia expressions in South Korea.

Recently, South Korea has been transitioning into a super-aged society. The purpose of this paper is to identify the patterns and underlying causes of gerontophobia expressions in South Korea. This paper refines the patterns of gerontophobia expressions into five types: "Fear of Aging," "Resource Burden," "Social Isolation," "Criticism of Social Behavior," and "Stereotypes of Political Orientation." Based on these types, this study develops a deep learning algorithm to detect the type of gerontophobia expressions. To do this, kc-BERT was used and 760,140 news comments (for six years from May 1, 2017, to June 31, 2021) in Naver news was used. The result shows that "Fear of Aging" type exhibited a significant decreasing trend, while the other types showed no meaningful changes. The results of topic modeling on news articles indicated that various aspects of elderly life, unresolved historical events, COVID-19, digital and financial exclusion, economic and social welfare, and other critical societal issues co-occur and contribute to gerontophobia. This study provides a framework to understand the characteristics of online gerontophobia, offering insights into its underlying causes, and providing practical implications for policy makers.

Abstract A009: Engaging Latino communities to develop a skin cancer intervention: A qualitative exploration

Abstract Introduction: In the past two decades, melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) incidence among Latinos has risen by 20%. Despite the lower incidence rate of skin cancers among Latinos compared to Caucasians, the mortality rate of Latinos is higher. However, skin cancer is understudied among Latinos and they were less likely to engage in skin cancer preventive behaviors. This qualitative study explored Latinos’ beliefs and behaviors related to skin cancer and their interest in a skin cancer intervention from both community members and key stakeholders. Methods: Latinos were recruited in New Jersey through community organizations and social media posts (n=34; 11 Spanish-preferring and 23 English-preferring) for focus group discussions. Five focus groups (2 in Spanish and 3 in English) were conducted, where participants discussed their perceptions and behaviors about skin cancer, sun protection, skin self-examination, culture and lifestyles, and their recommendations for a mobile skin cancer intervention. Additionally, healthcare providers (n=4) and Latino community leaders (n=5) were recruited for individual interviews to complement the results of focus groups. A thematic analysis was conducted on all transcripts. Results: Focus group participants aged from 18 to 73 (M=33.44), 50% were female (n=17), 29.4% (n=10) had a household income below $25000, and 32.3% (n=11) had less than a college degree. Awareness of and knowledge about skin cancer, sun protection, and skin examination were low overall. All participants indicated that skin cancer communication is rare among Latinos. There was consensus among the findings of the focus groups and key stakeholder interviews. Perceived barriers included: 1) limited access (e.g., health insurance); 2) low awareness or knowledge (e.g., don’t know efficient sun protection methods or what to look for in skin self-examination); 3) misperception (e.g., dark skin won’t get skin cancer). Salient facilitators included: 1) care for family (e.g., sunscreen for children and parents); 2) consequences (e.g., worry and fear of aging or death, sunburns); 3) coverage or access (e.g., good insurance). Social media usage was prevalent in many households, with WhatsApp and Facebook being popular platforms for communication with family and friends, as well as for discussing health-related topics. The consensus regarding intervention messages was that visuals and clear/simple messages featuring Latinos would be effective in educating about skin cancer and promoting behavior change. As complementary findings, key stakeholders indicated that educating the women in the family on sun safety behaviors, involving local Latino organizations, and delivering messages from physicians directly would be effective. Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of skin cancer education within the Latino community, particularly due to low awareness and misperception of skin cancer, sun protection, and skin examination. Social media present a promising way to reach Latinos through culturally-centered and mobile-based interventions. Citation Format: Zhaomeng Niu, Aarthi Shanmugavel, Yonaira Rivera, Carolina Lozada, Emily Peters, Carolyn Heckman. Engaging Latino communities to develop a skin cancer intervention: A qualitative exploration [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A009.

Older Adult Abuse and the Fear of Aging in Younger Adults in Nigeria: Implications for Social Work Practice

Older Adult Abuse and the Fear of Aging in Younger Adults in Nigeria: Implications for Social Work Practice

Painted in Broad Strokes: English-Language News Media Coverage of Home Care in Relation to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada

As eldercare was at the forefront of mainstream news media during the COVID-19 pandemic, these media accounts may draw on and/or further reshape public understandings of home care in Canada. A frame analysis informed by critical discourse theory was used to examine 56 English-language articles related to home care (March 2020–March 2021). Home care is often “tacked on” to discussions of long-term residential care and is constructed by what it is not, by what it is a preferred alternative to, and by what it might circumvent (i.e., neglect, contagion). Infused with taken-for-granted meanings and linked to population aging and system crisis, home care is positioned as the progressive future of Canadian eldercare. Although home care investment is a common call, at times the gravity of the problem is imbalanced against small-scale individualistic solutions. Inequities of home spaces and impacts on families are obscured, with homes characterized as idealized places of dignity and (relative) safety. Older adults are positioned as vulnerable, passive victims, in contrast to their benevolent helpers. The authors discuss how we can clarify and strengthen political advocacy and public discourse around eldercare without reinforcing compassionate ageism, apocalyptic demography, and fear of aging while recognizing the nuances around receiving care in either home or residential settings.

The Grand Style. Encountering elderly influencers

The number of elderly influencers on Instagram is increasing. When analyzing a sample of corresponding posts, it is noticeable that fashion, especially fancy or vintage fashion, plays a central role. By choosing extraordinary looks, elderly influencers, whose age is by no means concealed, communicate self-determination and independence from the opinions of others – both also in connection with life experience. Their followers consider them as cool and empowering: this way, they can positively influence society’s perception of elderly people, take away younger recipients’ fear of aging, and act as role models. However, a noticeable divide emerges, as the elderly influencers are apparently well-educated and presumably also wealthy and enjoy good health. In social comparison, many of those of the same age would probably perform poorly. Therefore, it can be concluded that elderly influencer may be beneficial to their recipients and to society as a whole, but that addressing the social conditions that enable old people to live a fulfilled life is largely ignored.

Reflexive Planning for Later Life: Minority Stress and Aging Challenges among Midlife Chinese Lesbians and Gay Men

ABSTRACT This study examines how Chinese lesbians and gay men make sense of the prospect of growing old and plan for later life in Hong Kong, where same-sex relationships are yet to be legally recognized. Drawing on in-depth narrative interviews, the results show that lesbians and gay men in midlife reported a range of previous, current, and anticipated challenges associated with the stigma attached to homosexuality. These, in turn, shaped their ways of perceiving and planning for later life. Three forms of reflexivity in response to minority stress and the prospect of aging were identified: coping with fears of aging alone, striving for self-mastery, and planning ahead with feelings of wariness. Participants’ concerns and plans around aging demonstrated differing degrees of reflexivity, through which they attempted to navigate family norms and structural constraints and find ways to accumulate resources for later life. Meanwhile, their heightened sense of uncertainty and insecurity showed that their perceptions and experiences of aging were influenced by minority stress and material, familial, and socio-political circumstances. This article builds a constructive dialogue between sexuality and aging studies by unraveling both the aging insecurity and capacities for reflexive planning among an oft-neglected group of sexual minority people in midlife.

Watching Clotho

Watching Clotho

DISMANTLING AGEISM: EXPLORING PERSONAL AND SOCIETAL ATTITUDES ABOUT AGING IN UNDERGRADUATE CLASS ACTIVITIES

Abstract Ageism and fear of aging are influenced by both personal and societal attitudes about aging. Ageist beliefs reflected in society or in individuals can impact both our own aging process and how we treat others (Cooney et al, 2020). Thus, it is imperative to explore personal and societal attitudes about aging. In this poster, themes will be presented from a study on two class activities that explore ageism and attitudes about aging, as well as directions for these activities. Students (n=34) in an undergraduate college class were asked to describe their thoughts on aging in 6 words. They were next prompted, with no word limit, to describe fears and what they look forward to about aging. Content analysis of responses revealed themes including the complexity of aging, fears about dementia, physical changes, and the unknown nature of life, and positive interest in career and family goals. In a second activity, based off the AARP social experiment in which millennials were asked “what do you consider to be old?,” students asked peers “what image comes to mind when I say “old person?” and “what three words come to mind when I say old person?” Content analysis of responses included themes relating primarily to negative stereotypes, such as “confused and nursing home,” with some positive associations, such as “grandparents or wisdom.” Both activities prompted rich discussion about the connection between fears of aging and ageism, the importance of addressing ageism and of exploring both positive and challenging aspects of personal aging.

Effects of Social Support and Loneliness on the Irrational Consumption Tendencies of Healthcare Products among the Elderly: A Structural Equation Model.

In recent years, with the development of the social economy and an improvement in health consciousness, the levels of demand and consumption for healthcare products have been increasing rapidly among the elderly. However, the irrational consumption of healthcare products has caused widespread concern, as it can generate economic losses and have negative effects on psychological health. Therefore, it is critical to identify the variables that can reduce tendencies toward irrational consumption in the area of healthcare products. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the irrational consumption tendencies of healthcare products, social support, and loneliness among elderly people in Hangzhou, China. In 2021, a cross-sectional survey involving 485 elderly people from three districts in Hangzhou, China, was conducted. Descriptive statistics were calculated for socioeconomic status and demographic characteristics, level of loneliness, social support, and irrational consumption tendencies. A structural equation model was used to test the impact of social support on the irrational consumption tendencies of healthcare products among the elderly and to explore the mediating effects of loneliness. The findings reveal that the average levels of social support and loneliness among the elderly were 30.63 points (total = 44 points) and 6.88 points (15 points), respectively. The average scores of the four subscales of irrational consumption tendencies, which were named susceptibility to persuasion, interpersonal influences, pursuit of added value, and fears of aging were 2.48, 2.93, 2.48, and 3.17 points (5 points), respectively. Social support had a significant effect on irrational consumption tendencies, and loneliness played a partial mediating role between social support and irrational consumption tendencies. A relationship model was constructed to examine the association between loneliness, social support, and irrational consumption tendencies among older people in relation to healthcare products. From a social support and psychological perspective, advice and countermeasures are proposed to prevent the irrational consumption of healthcare products among older people.

ОЦЕНКА ПРОЯВЛЕНИЙ ЭЙДЖИЗМА СРЕДИ СТУДЕНТОВ МЕДИЦИНСКОГО УНИВЕРСИТЕТА

Ageism is a type of age discrimination among the elderly population. The article presents the results of a study of the manifestations of ageism among 1st and 4th year students of the medical faculty of the Educational Institution "Belarusian State Medical University". It is shown that students recognize the problem of age discrimination among the elderly in society. The index of the urgency of the problem of ageism for medical students was 42.1. Among the fourth-year students, in comparison with the first-year students, there are fewer respondents who are optimistic about their own old age, but there are more of those who are able to actively avoid old age. The prevalence of gerontological stereotypes among medical students is high. Stereotypes change in the learning process of the respondents, but they do not disappear. The respondents believe that the most important reasons for the emergence of ageism are not only gerontological stereotypes, but also the unwillingness to communicate with the elderly because of their own fear of old age or the psychological difficulty of communicating with the elderly. Medical students treat the elderly well and characterize them with positive epithets. The tendency of students of a medical university to unintentional ageism was revealed.

ВОЗРАСТНЫЕ СТЕРЕОТИПЫ В АНГЛОСАКСОНСКОЙ ЯЗЫКОВОЙ КАРТИНЕ МИРА: СТАТИЧЕСКИЙ И ДИНАМИЧЕСКИЙ АСПЕКТЫ

The relevance of this work is due to the importance of age stereotypes for the life of society and the language picture of the world and the need to study the dynamic aspect of these stereotypes. Traditional age stereotypes are represented in proverbs correlated with this phenomenon and reflecting the axiology of age. However, these stereotypes cannot be considered permanent even within a certain linguistic and cultural community, they are subject to changes that can occur both over a long time and relatively quickly. The aim of the work is to identify the dynamics of age stereotypes in the Anglo-Saxon language picture of the world on the basis of comparing their representation in proverbs and English-language corpora. The comparative analysis of English proverbs and utterances in British and American corpora shows that most of the negative as well as positive stereotypes associated with youth and old age remain unchanged or are further detailed in the corpora. However, many new stereotypes are emerging, which is due to such factors as rapid technological progress, the emergence of digital technologies, the focus of society on intensive work and money-making, the tendency to youth obsession. New negative stereotypes concerning old age include increased fear of old age, disability, forgetfulness, loneliness, the need of older people for empathy, egocentrism. An additional positive stereotype is the stereotype about the love of old people for children. New negative stereotypes connected with youth include commitment of young people to bad habits, a tendency to crime, lack of perseverance, unwillingness to study, emotional instability, excessive haste, dependence on technology, leading to social isolation. There are also such new positive stereotypes as good adaptability, health and activity of young people, a large number of opportunities that are open up to them, rapid growth on the career ladder.

ART AS PHARMAKON

This essay proposes an interpretation of Don DeLillo’s Falling Man based on a combination of textual analysis and contemporary theoretical approaches to the specific questions of trauma, grief, and posttraumatic healing as well as the more general question of the status of the subject in a postmodern context marked by increasing globalization. This multidimensional interpretive approach centers on one of the key metanarrative questions posed by DeLillo’s novel: the potential function of art as an antidote against various expressions of contemporary angst, such as the viral dread of terrorism or the fear of aging and age-related maladies. In exploring the significance of a double esthetic articulation in DeLillo’s novel (an esthetic of defamiliarization and an “esthetic of disappearance”), the essay explores the author’s representation of his characters’ varying reactions to terror-related trauma and the role of the imagination in such reactions. While Falling Man represents subjective experiences of trauma and loss in painful and at times shocking ways, its dissection of the imaginary dimension of trauma also points toward various strategies through which traumatic experiences can be articulated into cohesive modes of self-assessment, grief management, and healing.