Age Perception Research Articles

Demographic influences on perception of aging, appearance-related consciousness, and negative self-perception among young and middle-aged adult women

With global life expectancy increasing, societal views on aging—especially its negative impact on women's self-image, intensified by social media—demand urgent attention. These norms affect self-perception and overall well-being. Therefore, this demographic study was conducted with the objective of exploring the relationships between age perceptions, appearance-related social media consciousness (ASMC), and self-perception. This pilot study, carried out in Lahore, Pakistan, involved 100 women either engaged in academic or professional work who were selected through purposive sampling. The data were collected via face-to-face interviews utilizing a questionnaire in English, comprising the Brief Aging Perceptions Questionnaire (B-APQ), the ASMC scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), to evaluate the participants’ perceptions and self-view. Our study revealed a significant positive correlation between perceptions of aging and negative self-perception (r = 0.98, p < 0.01), indicating that concerns about aging contribute to more negative self-views, a trend mainly attributed to middle-aged women. Moreover, marital status notably affected appearance-related consciousness, with married women exhibiting greater concerns (p = 0.03). The findings underscore the nuanced effect of education on appearance concerns—postgraduates showed greater concern (mean = 57.24 ± 16.45) than those with lower educational levels (mean = 47.94 ± 19.73, p = 0.04). Despite this, education did not significantly impact perceptions of aging or overall negative self-perception, indicating its selective influence on aspects of self-perception. Our study reveals the multifaceted relationship between perceptions of aging, appearance consciousness, and self-perception in women, emphasizing the substantial role of social media. It shows that social media exposure and engagement intensify appearance concerns and aging anxieties, especially among middle-aged and married women, concluding in more pronounced negative self-views. While the influence of educational background remains mixed, the findings support initiatives for educational and awareness campaigns to redefine aging and appearance perceptions, advocating for diverse beauty representations to improve women's self-image and counteract negative stereotypes.

노인의 우울과 노인연령인식 간에 사회참여활동이 미치는 영향

Objective : We aim to explore the impact of social participation activities on the relationship between depression and age perception in the elderly.
 Methods : This study used data from the 2020 Survey on the Status of the Elderly, and a total of 10,097 people responded to the survey by sampling the survey districts and the number of households. The dependent variable was the perception of the elderly's age, the independent variable was the depression score, and the control variable was social participation. Statistical analysis was performed through regression analysis. Considering that the independent variable in this study was a continuous variable and the control variable was a categorical variable, an interaction term was entered into the regression equation for analysis. 
 Results : As a result of the analysis, social activity participation and depression were statistically significant (F(3, 10093)=1308.39, p<.001), and the explanatory power of the model was approximately 28% (adjusted R²=0.28). When the interaction term was added, the explanatory power increased by 0.5%, and the increase in explanatory power was statistically significant (F(2,10094)=1914.99, p<.001). In addition, the effect of participation in social activities lowers the perception of the elderly's age. The more depressed one is, the higher the perception of the elderly's age, but participation in social activities has a positive effect on lowering the perception of the elderly's age (b=-0.14). 
 Conclusion : Participation in social activities plays an important role in lowering depression and age awareness among the elderly and strengthening the positive social self of the elderly. Based on the research results, this study needs to emphasize the importance of policies and programs that encourage and support participation in social activities in old age, and support positive age perception among older people at the personal and social levels. It is expected that these results can be used as basic data to emphasize the importance of social activity participation projects for the elderly and to change the age standards for the elderly.

Subjective Age and Loneliness in Older Adults: The Moderating Role of Attachment Patterns.

Loneliness in older adults has been associated with a myriad of undesirable physical and psychological consequences, as well as with negative age and aging perceptions. However, little is known regarding the effect of individual differences in the ability to seek, maintain, and benefit from close relationships in this context. Accordingly, we examined the associations between subjective age (i.e., how old/young one feels vis-à-vis his/her chronological age; SA), attachment patterns, and loneliness. Data were collected from 840 older adults in Israel (Mage = 74.75, SD = 5.50, range = 67-94), who provided information pertaining to SA, attachment anxiety/avoidance, and loneliness. Loneliness was associated with an older SA, as well as with high levels of attachment anxiety/avoidance. Moreover, the association between SA and loneliness was nullified for individuals with low levels of attachment anxiety/avoidance. The discussion highlights the importance of both age perceptions and attachment patterns for understanding the underlying mechanisms of late-life loneliness.

DO OLDER ADULTS BELIEVE THEY ARE AGING SUCCESSFULLY IN THE CIRCUMPOLAR NORTH?

Abstract People’s perspectives on successful aging may impact their own aging outcomes. To gain more insight, we surveyed a convenience sample of 58 adults aged 55+ years in urban Alaska about their perceptions of their own aging using Fowler’s successful aging scale. Overall, older adults rated their aging in the middle of the 1-7 scale across all three questions: how well they are aging, how “successfully” they have aged up to now, and how they rate their lives these days (M=4.17, SD=1.16, range=1-7 where 1 = not at all successful and 7 = extremely successful). Correlational analyses indicated that as perceptions of successful aging increase, self-reported good general health (M=2.90, SD=1.00, range=1=5) increases, r(56)=.499, p<.001, and self-reported disability (M=0.71, SD=0.92, range=0-3) decreases, r(56)=-.27, p<.05. Despite a small sample size, these findings that perceptions of successful aging increased as general heath increased and self-reported disability decreased, suggest that participants may perceive successful aging and good general health to be positively correlated. Perceptions of successful aging were not related to age in this sample (M=71.98, SD=8.74), r(56)=.125, p=.349. This is promising, as it may indicate that older adults recognize good health and absence of disability as integral components for successful aging regardless of chronological age providing opportunities for targeted messaging in future interventions. Future work will explore opportunities to promote successful aging and overcome some of the challenges related to healthy aging in this urban location, including the Circumpolar environment, historical trauma of Indigenous peoples, and a lack of accessible healthcare across Alaska.

THE MATCH/MISMATCH IN PERCEPTIONS OF SUCCESSFUL AGING AMONG OLDER BURUNDIAN REFUGEES IN THE US

Abstract Perceptions of successful aging may be impacted by unique lived experiences such as migration, adaptation, and traumatic life experiences. While there exist studies on successful aging among immigrant communities, research studies on successful aging among older refugees, who flee due to life threatening situations, are sparse. The present qualitative study aimed to shed light on the match or mismatch that may exist between older refugees’ perceptions of successful aging and their perceptions of their lived experiences, as well as sex variations in those perceptions. Twenty-one Burundian refugees, aged 50+, were recruited from an upper Midwest community to participate in in-depth interviews. The qualitative interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Themes denoting a match in aging refugees’ perceptions of success aging and lived experience included: wisdom/ability to give advice (i.e., guidance especially to younger individuals), experiencing peace and security, and fostering family relationships. A mismatch was highlighted in themes related to work experiences (i.e., the challenge of engaging in jobs not related to their prior skills), lack of social connections, and communication difficulties. Gender differences were apparent in that women emphasized shifts in work-related gender roles while men emphasized shifts in dependency-related gender roles. In many ways, aging refugees’ unique backgrounds and experiences seemed influential for their match/mismatch in successful aging perceptions and experiences. These findings highlight the importance for host communities to better understanding how refugees perceive and experience successful aging to best inform the implementation of effective interventions for aging refugees.

A CONVERGENT PARALLEL MIXED METHODS ANALYSIS OF SUCCESSFUL AGING IN CHINESE AMERICANS: DOES ACCULTURATION MATTER?

Abstract Chinese Americans comprise the largest Asian origin group aged 65 years and older (26%), yet little is known about how aging, particularly in the context of acculturation, is experienced within this group. Further, although immigration scholarship underscores a robust, positive relationship between successful aging and acculturation, how major lifecourse events shape perceptions of aging well in Chinese Americans is not well-understood. Using an intersectional lifecourse perspective, this convergent parallel mixed methods study presents integrated findings from a cross-sectional survey (N=98; 58.2% female; mean age=64.4 years) and qualitative interviews (N=32; 53% female; mean age=59.4 years) with community-dwelling Chinese Americans 50+, about 80% of whom were foreign-born. Survey measures included the Short Acculturation Scale, the Successful Aging Scale, self-reported health, and demographic variables. Quantitative data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. No significant association was found between acculturation and successful aging, even after controlling for length of stay and sociodemographic variables. Thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed feelings of ambivalence and alienation. Several participants shared that despite having lived in the US for decades, they felt like they “no longer belonged”, feared for their safety, and felt a “sense of betrayal” after the recent increase in Anti-Asian hate crimes. Many were planning to return to their home country, where they believed it would be easier to age successfully. These findings suggest that important turning points in the lifecourse trajectory, such as experiences of racism, can negatively influence perceptions of aging in Chinese Americans, regardless of degree of acculturation and length of stay.

“WE DON’T AGE ALONE; WE AGE AS A COMMUNITY”: BARRIERS AND ENABLERS OF AGING WELL IN BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Eurocentric understandings of successful aging privilege optimal physical and cognitive health, absence of disease and disability, and active social engagement in later life. This marginalizes the experiences of diverse older adults who may live with chronic conditions but maintain a good quality of life, supported by factors such as spirituality, resilience, and close familial ties. Further, this approach is myopic because it fails to capture social determinants of health (SDOH) that influence the aging process over time. The Perceptions of Aging Well in Diverse Older Adults study is a 5-year series that seeks to identify: 1) micro-, meso- and macro-level factors that shape aging well in racial/ethnic minority older adults, and 2) strategies to support aging well in racial/ethnic minority older adults. This presentation highlights preliminary findings from a sub-study with Black/African American participants. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 community-dwelling Black/African American adults age 50+ (14 females, 9 males; mean age = 71.2 years). Thematic analysis of the interview data showed that neighborhood safety, food insecurity, pharmacy deserts, adverse childhood experiences, structural racism, and everyday micro-aggressions shaped perceptions of aging well in powerful ways. Strong kinship bonds and a desire to leave a legacy of resilience and empowerment for younger generations motivated participants to engage in prosocial activities such as volunteering in local church communities. These findings suggest that along with addressing key SDOH, fostering generativity through teaching and mentoring, creative arts, and taking on community leadership roles may enhance subjective well-being in Black/African American older adults.

Changing trends in health orientation among older adults: A scoping review.

Older people's health condition is not uniform, and the components of their health are interrelated. Concepts regarding the health of older people have emerged and changed over time. However, the transition of concepts and influencing factors are not well examined through research. We have conducted a scoping review of the changes over time in the concept of health for older people and the factors influencing these changes. The public websites of international organizations and academic societies related to older people's health and research paper database were searched, and the extracted data were summarized in a chronological table. Consequently, this study revealed changing trends in health orientation after health had been defined by WHO, namely, successful aging, productive aging, active aging, and healthy aging, and their components, not the concept of health. The emergence and changes of health orientation among older people may have accompanied proposals and measures of international organizations and academic societies developed in response to changes in the demographic structure, and changes in how society perceives and supports older people. With the changing eras that bring about advances in health technology, prolongation of life expectancy, and changes in lifestyles, the needs of older people, society's perceptions of aging and older people, and how to support them will also change. Our findings may provide a valuable basis for understanding aging and older people, reconsidering their health orientation based on the health issues of older people and their significance, and formulating policies for older people in the future. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 5-17.

INVESTIGATING PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS AS A PREDICTOR OF FEAR OF FALLING AND FALL RISK IN OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Psychological factors related to appetitive and avoidant motivation, perceptions of aging, and regulatory focus (promotion focus on gains versus a prevention focus on non-losses) are likely to play an important role in predicting one’s fear of falling (FOF) and resulting impact on physical activity engagement. This pilot study aimed to investigate the gap in current research related to these psychological factors as predictors of older adults’ Fear of Falling and Fall Risk Appraisal (FRA). The study assessed positive and negative perceptions about aging in regards to control and consequences of aging (Brief Aging Perceptions Questionnaire [B-APQ]), motivation (Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation system [BIS/BAS]), regulatory focus in goal achievement (Regulatory Focus Questionnaire [RFQ]), FOF (Fall-Efficacy Scale-International [FES-I]), and static balance levels (BTracks Balance system [BBS]). Participants (n=48) were categorized into four FRA groups: rational (low FOF/normal balance), irrational (high FOF/normal balance), incongruent (low FOF/poor balance), and congruent (high FOF/poor balance). A Spearman Rho correlation found that FOF was positively correlated with two of the BAPQ sub-domains of Control-Positive (ρ = 0.46, p<.001) and Consequences and Control Negative (ρ = 0.43, p =.002),. A Kruskal-Wallis test found the relationship between BAPQ Control Positive and the Irrational and Rational FRA group baselines to be significant. The results suggest that among other psychological factors, perceptions about aging may be predictive of FOF and FRA in aging. These results highlight the importance of clinicians addressing not only the physiological factors of fall risk, but also the psychological factors underlying fall risk in older adults.

CHALLENGES OF VERY LATE LIFE: PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, CAREGIVING, AND AGING PERCEPTIONS

Abstract The very old are the fastest growing population in developed countries, yet research on this age group remains limited. There are, however, specific challenges of very old age that differ from those in earlier late life phases. Very old individuals and their families may thus have unique needs and may require adapted services. In this symposium, we address selected challenges associated with reaching very old age, including physical and mental health issues, as well as implications of both receiving and providing care. Ribeiro and colleagues report on centenarians’ health and morbidity profiles using the Portuguese census, by comparing individuals aged 100 years old in 2011 and 2021. Jopp and colleagues present findings from the first national Swiss centenarian study on centenarians’ health, cognition, and well-being. Gomes da Rocha and colleagues investigate depressive symptoms in Swiss centenarians during the COVID-19 pandemic, showing notably elevated scores. Kim and colleagues focus on aging perceptions and their correlates among dyads of very old parents and their old children from South Korea, highlighting the impact of the care experience for both dyad members. Gallagher and colleagues examine how old children of very old parents with dementia manage behavioral and psychological symptoms through specific strategies, offering insights on how to better support family care givers of very old dementia patients. In sum, this symposium offers novel insights on specific challenges encountered in very old age, by the individual and their families, and proposes potential pathways towards better understanding and handling of such challenges.

DEVELOPING AN AGE-FRIENDLY ECOSYSTEM: A CASE STUDY FROM MINNESOTA’S MULTISECTOR BLUEPRINT ON AGING

Abstract As age demographics continue to shift, age-friendly policy initiatives at the global, national, state, and local levels are rapidly evolving. These emerging age-friendly initiatives underscore a changing perception of aging and older adulthood. Many states, communities, academic institutions, health systems, and other organizations are embracing the demographic shift and leveraging age-friendly frameworks that seek to improve later life experiences. However, there is limited scholarly work that explores contextualized age-friendly policy development. Using qualitative case study and historiography methods, this study provides an overview of various age-friendly frameworks and outlines work in the State of Minnesota where intersections of the various frameworks are coalescing in an age-friendly ecosystem. Minnesota, rather than being a ‘best practices’ exemplar, serves as a model of an evolving system, led by the Age-friendly Minnesota Council in partnership with organizations such as the Minnesota Board on Aging and the Minnesota Department of Human Services, that are developing impactful policies to address the needs of a growing heterogeneous older adult population. The nuances and realities found within the Minnesota context underscore the need to develop fluid age-friendly ecosystems that can adapt to the uniqueness and complexity found in each state, region, or community. Going forward, it will be critical for Minnesota to evaluate their programs to determine their long term impact on the entire population — including today’s older adults as well as future older Minnesotans.

LONGITUDINAL CHANGES IN WELL-BEING ASSOCIATED WITH AGING ATTITUDE, COGNITIVE STATUS, AND WIDOWHOOD TRANSITION

Abstract This symposium brings together four studies that employ national data collected from older Americans to examine longitudinal changes in older adults’ cognitive, social, and psychological health. The first study focuses on the role of self-perception of aging in memory decline and social mechanisms linking aging perception and memory. It found that negative perceptions of aging predicted memory decline 8 years later and that loneliness and social isolation were pathways. The second study is concerned with neuropsychological changes before the onset of dementia. Using latent growth modeling, it found that the trajectory of depression increased over time in a quadratic fashion before the onset of incident dementia. Further, there were racial/ethnic group differences in levels of depression. Using fixed-effect linear regression, the third study reports that changes in cognitive status were associated with changes in social isolation in older adults. Specifically, it found that transitioning from cognitive intact to cognitive impairment status was associated with increased social isolation. The fourth and final paper examines changes in psychological well-being related to the transition to widowhood. It found that during the year right after the spouse died, older adults experienced increased depressive symptoms and reduced positive well-being. But adaptation is evident—the surviving spouse returned to pre-loss levels of psychological well-being around two years after the death. Together, the four studies show that attitude, cognitive status, and life course transition shape the dynamics of cognitive, social, and psychological health in later life.

GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Abstract We draw from our personal insights as foreign-born female faculty in the U.S. to explore how our minority status in the U.S. has affected our experiences/identities in the field of aging. We practiced intersectionality by considering how our understandings of “foreignness” in academia and the aging field are intertwined with other markers of difference, including race, national origin, language, and academic programs. We also draw from tenets of collaborative autoethnography to engage two autoethnographies from two countries in Asia to pool their lived experiences and collaboratively analyze and interpret them for commonalities and differences. We begin by sharing stories about graduate study pursuits and becoming faculty in the U.S. We note how our foreignness shapes our lives as aging scholars in the U.S. academy and our personal views on aging. After exchanging our first set of writings, we identified key experiences to focus on in the subsequent writing periods. Our minority backgrounds, teaching aging subjects, and using qualitative methodology are shared identification. Moreover, the themes that deal directly with identity development and the perception of aging of non-white women can be added to promote a deep understanding of aging among the non-native-born population. This study highlights the value of collaborative autoethnography as a method of inquiry and reflection. Findings demonstrate that non-native-born female faculty members in the field of aging faced multi-faceted challenges in both professional and personal realms. Implications for supporting foreign-born female aging scholars are discussed.

FEAR OF FALLING PREDICTS NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS OF AGING AMONG LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Negative self-perceptions of aging (NSPA) are associated with various health-related outcomes, including fear of falling (FOF). Despite the leading cause of injury, disability, and hospitalization among racially diverse low-income older adults, FOF’s predictive potential effect on NSPA is less studied. This was a cross-sectional study with a sampling of 54 independent and cognitively healthy older adults (4 males, 47 females, mean age 73.91, SD: 6.4; 61-87 years old) in a low-income community. A five-item NSPA Likert scale, part of the Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (B-APQ), was used to assess the negative self-perceptions of aging, with higher scores indicating fewer negative views. The Short Fall Efficacy Scale International questionnaire was used to evaluate the level of concern about falls for a range of activities of daily living. More than half of the participants were African Americans (27 or 50%), completed high school (29 or 53.7%), lived alone (37 or 68.5%), and earned just enough financially (29 or 53.7%). The simple regression results indicated that the model explained 14.9% of the variance (R2=.149, F(1,52) = 9.13, p =.004). Fear of falling (FOF) (β = -.406, p =.004) was negatively associated with NSPA. As FOF scores increased, NSPA scores decreased, signifying higher FOF, accentuating worse perceived aging. Future longitudinal research should focus on the relationship between FOF and NSPA in increasing fall risk and injurious falls, especially in ethnically diverse low-income older adults, to further clarify this relationship and its consequences. Additionally, assessing FOF and providing interventions may enhance positive perceptions of aging.

NEGATIVE AGING STEREOTYPES: FEAR OF DEPENDENCY EFFECTS ON ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN MIDDLE AND OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Negative stereotypes of aging tend to depict older adults as frail or a burden on society. According to Stereotype Embodiment Theory, adults who believe negative aging stereotypes tend to internalize these thoughts, and have been found to experience negative physical and mental outcomes, in later life. One aspect of these internalized stereotypes is the fear of being dependent on other people, which highlights the older adults’ worry of being seen as incompetent or child-like. Participants were aged 50 to 82-years-old (M=58.5), and primarily White (87%) women (62%). This study explored the relationship between Fear of Dependency Scale (FoD) and anxiety and depression, evaluating gender, age, and physical health as moderators. FoD was related to higher ratings of depression and anxiety in women, with age and physical health acting as moderators. When reporting a high fear of dependency, middle-aged women and women reporting poor physical health had the highest reported anxiety and depression. The early impact of FoD on women is intriguing. FoD was positively associated with higher ratings of depression for men but not anxiety, with only physical health acting as a moderator. Men with high FoD scores and poor physical health reported the highest levels of depression. It appears the negative views of aging can affect individuals, even before they reach older adulthood, and especially if they have poor perceptions of their physical health. Having negative perceptions of aging can negatively impact individuals as they age, and some groups may be more at risk for these outcomes than others.

“YOU BECOME LESS OF A PERSON”: BEING UNNEEDED AND THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF LONELINESS IN LATER LIFE

Abstract Loneliness is a significant public health concern among older persons and refers to the discrepancy between actual and desired forms of social connection. Loneliness is often characterized in terms of (i) lacking companionship, (ii) being left out and (iii) feeling isolated. In comparison, older persons’ experience of being unneeded is relatively underexamined as a construct of loneliness. Being unneeded connects to constrains in attaining social recognition and underpins the complex dynamics of social exchange practices. This study explores the relationship between being unneeded and loneliness in later life, focusing on the impact on one’s identity and ability to form connections with others. We conducted in-depth interviews with 44 older persons in Singapore with varying experiences of loneliness. Using a life-course perspective, participants narrated their experiences of loneliness across domains of family, friendships, work, and community. Loneliness, attributed to being unneeded, features more prominently in later life and pertains to perceived limited personal mastery, negative ageing perceptions, role-loss, life transitions and declines in health. Experiences of being unneeded is embedded in older persons’ beliefs that their self-worth and social recognition is tied to individual strive and diligence– an ideology of meritocracy that has been perpetuated by the Singapore state. Studies have shown how beliefs in meritocracy are associated with lowered likelihood of loneliness among older persons. The Singapore story indicates otherwise – loneliness prevails when older persons with declining resources struggle to find a place in a society which accords worth and recognition to one’s productivity and contribution to the nation.

Breaking the barriers: overcoming dementia-related stigma in minority communities.

Dementia is a global health concern that affects individuals irrespective of their cultural or linguistic backgrounds. However, research has long recognized the pronounced stigma associated with dementia, particularly within Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities. This article seeks to summarize the underlying factors contributing to the heightened levels of dementia stigma within CALD communities, through a review of the literature. Our examination shows that cultural beliefs, language barriers, limited awareness, and the impact of migration on perceptions of aging and cognitive decline are contributing factors. Consequently, our analysis highlights the need for tailored, culturally appropriate interventions aimed at mitigating stigma and enhancing dementia care within CALD populations. Our proposed solutions, built on a social-ecological approach, highlights the critical role of collaborative efforts involving policymakers, healthcare providers, community organizations, and CALD community members in fostering a more dementia-inclusive society. This perspective piece aims to shed light on the distinct challenges faced by CALD communities, while advocating for a holistic approach to redefine perceptions and care strategies tailored to these populations.

The relationship between older adults’ perceptions of ageing and depression: a systematic review

PurposePerceptions of ageing towards the self and towards others can positively and negatively impact an older adult’s mental wellbeing. This paper aims to consolidate literature examining the relationship between perceptions of ageing and depression in older adults to inform both practice and policy for older adult mental health services.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative research articles examining perceptions of ageing and depression in older adults were identified through searches on three electronical databases, alongside forward and backwards citation searches. A total of 14 articles involving 31,211 participants were identified.FindingsGreater negative attitudes towards ageing were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and greater positive attitudes towards ageing were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms or higher levels of happiness. However, the causal direction of this relationship could not be determined. Studies demonstrated that perceptions of ageing also act as a moderator in the relationship between depression and health status, hopelessness and personality traits. Future research should attempt to examine the relationship between perceptions of ageing and depression in older adults to attempt to identify the causal direction of this relationship.Originality/valueThis is the only systematic review the authors are aware of consolidating literature which explores the relationship between older adults’ perceptions of ageing and depression. It is hoped that these findings will be able to inform both policy and practice to improve older adults’ care and support for depression.

Purpose in Life Links Positive Aging Views to Life Satisfaction: A Within-Person Analysis Spanning 13 Years.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between positive perceptions of aging, purpose in life, and life satisfaction in older adults. It was hypothesized that purpose in life mediates the relationship between positive perceptions of one's aging and life satisfaction. This hypothesis was tested in a sample of older American adults from four waves of the Health and Retirement Study collected at 4-year intervals between 2008 and 2020 (N = 11,546, mean age in 2008 = 62.772). The random intercept cross-lagged panel model was used to separate within-person and between-person sources of variance. Mediation was tested at the longitudinal within-person level and was supported. Results suggest that an increase in positive perceptions of aging is associated with a future increase in purpose in life, which in turn is associated with higher future levels of life satisfaction. The findings inform interventions promoting positive aging, purpose, and life satisfaction in older adults.

Attitudes Towards Aging - an Explanatory Mechanism for the Relationship Between Perceived Age Discrimination and Successful Aging

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to investigate how age discrimination affects successful aging, but also whether internalizing negative attitudes towards old age explains the relationship between the two variables. Materials and Methods: The study involved 391 people aged between 35 and 90, 315 women and 76 men. The tools used were The Fraboni Scale of Ageism, Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire, and Successful Aging Inventory. Outcomes: According to the results, there was no statistically significant correlation between perceptions of age discrimination and successful aging. Also, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between negative attitudes towards aging and successful aging. Finally, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between the perception of age discrimination and negative attitudes towards aging. Conclusions: The approach in the present study allows for a deeper understanding of subjective perceptions of one’s own aging. The study investigated two variables that may have relevance in understanding subjective successful aging - perceived age discrimination and negative attitudes toward aging. The results allow us to better understand the antecedents of successful aging and their importance.