Age Perception Research Articles

The effect of age medicalization on the perception of individual health and aging in the older

The effect of age medicalization on the perception of individual health and aging in the older

»Kako postanemo stari?« Hrepenenje po mladosti, zdravju in dolgem življenju v 19. in 20. stoletju

The article discusses the changes in the perception of old age and ageing since the end of the 18th century when this phenomenon transformed from a natural and self-evident process leading to imminent death and transition to eternity to a problem for which a solution had to be found through medicalisation and pathologisation. The methods for prolonging life and tackling the issues involved in ageing have remained almost unchanged since Hippocrates and Galen, except that at the beginning of the 20th century, in addition to a healthy lifestyle and the avoidance of vices, it also became possible to influence the course of aging with the help of various (pseudo-)scientific methods that aroused a great deal of optimism and hope. The article describes the most popular medical and surgical methods promising life extension and eternal youth, the dubious preparations of healers that spread thanks to advertising, and points out the specific nature of the information available to Slovenian readers.

The liminal (vowel) space of womanhood: Fundamental frequency, formants, and the intersex body in Brazil

Abstract Despite the significance of intersex constituencies for explaining the social nature of sex and gender, intersex linguistic and social practices remain a yet unexplored frontier within sociolinguistics. This article examines fundamental frequency (F0) and vowel formant (F1–F3) production by participants with Turner Syndrome (TS), one of the most common intersex chromosomal conditions, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This analysis demonstrates significant differences in fundamental frequency and F3 among different participant groups. I argue that height, growth hormone, and chromosomes are fundamental in constructing womanhood for TS women. Along with relevant ethnographic data, these results call for a re-examination of the body within linguistic and anthropological understandings of ‘womanhood’ and ‘femaleness’. This article highlights the ways these biological factors intersect with gendered perceptions of age and maturity, which can have real-world effects on linguistic practice and the social life of intersex individuals. (Brazilian Portuguese, fundamental frequency, gender, intersex, Turner Syndrome, vowel formants, critical intersex studies)*

Older Adults' Metaphorical Perceptions of Aging in Turkey.

To determine older adults' metaphorical perceptions of the concept of aging. Participants in this qualitative study comprised 57 older adults as determined using convenience and criterion sampling methods. Data were obtained using a personal data form and the metaphor form and analyzed with descriptive and content analysis techniques. Fifty-seven metaphors were identified within three themes: 24 within Mental Aspect, 18 within Physical Aspect, and 15 within Psychosocial Aspect. The fact that most metaphors appeared within the Mental Aspect theme was interpreted as an indication that participants felt the effects of aging more in the mental dimension. Results of the research show that aging is perceived as experience and accumulation mentally, as inadequacy physically, and as the end or loneliness psychosocially. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(5), 27-34.].

A Study on Skincare Behavior According to the Perception of Aging Among Middle-aged Women in Their 40s and 50s

The paper aimed to investigate the perception of aging and corresponding skincare behaviors among women in their 40s and 50s. A survey was conducted from September 1, 2023, to October 10, 2023, involving 221 women aged 40 to 50. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS WIN 25.0. Frequency analysis was conducted to understand the general characteristics of the respondents and their perception of skin aging symptoms. Cross-analysis was performed to determine if there were differences in skincare behaviors based on the perception of skin aging symptoms. The results indicated that the onset of skin aging was generally perceived to begin in the late 30s, with particular concern about eye wrinkles. The initial recognition of skin aging was primarily through the appearance of eye wrinkles, with 47.5% of respondents identifying increased fine lines as the main symptom. Participants generally perceived their skin aging rate as slow compared to others. Analysis of preferred skincare methods to delay skin aging revealed statistically significant differences based on the perception of skin aging symptoms (p<.05). Regarding self-care methods for the skin, statistically significant differences were observed based on the perception of skin aging rate (p<.05). However, no statistically significant differences were found in the frequency of skincare investment based on the perception of skin aging symptoms (p>.05). The study also identified a desire among participants to hide or improve aging through professional skincare. Thus, it is suggested that promotional strategies for skincare tailored to middle-aged women and educational initiatives based on professional expertise should be implemented to enhance opportunities for healthy aging among this demographic.

Perceptions of Consumer Fraud and Aging Among Older People and the Judiciary in China.

Systematic research has been conducted on the relationship between aging and consumer fraud victimization. But few empirical studies examine the reality of judicial dispute resolution in consumer fraud against older people from the perspective of older adults and judges in China. Based on 161 court rulings, this qualitative study explores the perceptions of older adults in litigation about their experiences of being defrauded in China, alongside judges' responses. Results reveal that common fraud patterns used by business perpetrators render older individuals more susceptible to fraud. Older plaintiffs strategically frame "old age" in litigation, potentially as a tactical maneuver, while also readily emphasizing the importance of procedural justice. Results further show that judges expressed either negative ageism or age-neutral discourse in response to fraud targeting older individuals. Findings highlight the need to enhance consumer education to prevent fraud and address ageist stereotypes among older people. Findings also highlight the need to encourage Chinese courts to consider individual case specifics, leading to fair judgments and the protection of older individuals from fraud while upholding their rights.

Ageist attitudes and psychological distress in older adults: The moderating role of reflective functioning.

Ageist attitudes have been associated with various aspects of psychological functioning in older adults. According to Terror Management Theory, older adults may be seen as a reminder of human demise and death, and research has demonstrated links between ageist attitudes and compromised abilities to seek and maintain close personal relationships, which ward off awareness of one's mortality. Accordingly, the current work examined whether reflective functioning, or the ability to comprehend one's own and others' mental states, mitigates the negative psychological manifestations of ageist attitudes in older adults. Data was collected from 686 participants aged 60-94 (Mage=72.64, SD=6.28), who completed scales assessing ageist attitudes, reflective functioning, and psychological distress, as well as relevant socio-demographic information. Results indicated that ageist attitudes were linked with low levels of reflective functioning and enhanced psychological distress. Moreover, reflective functioning moderated the ageist attitudes-distress link, which was not significant in individuals reporting high levels of reflective functioning. This study provides insight into how the ability to comprehend others' mental states mitigates the adverse psychological effects of ageist attitudes and highlights the importance of examining relationship-enhancing personal factors within the context of negative ageing perceptions and psychological distress.

Changing the narrative: The future we want to see. Insights from older generations

Demographic change, a prominent trend in our societies, impacts the labour market, pensions, and the health and care sectors, among others. Concurrently, ageing brings opportunities, as older people actively contribute to society through work, caregiving and knowledge sharing. When looking at demographic change, it is important to consider its intersections with other global trends, such as inequality, climate change and technological advancements, and how this interconnectedness impacts people's daily lives across their lifespan. This article delves into recent European policy approaches and research on demographic change, pinpointing shortcomings and suggesting initiatives to reshape perceptions of ageing and revise the current narrative of old age. Drawing on insights from AGE Platform Europe, the European advocacy organisation of and for older people, this article highlights the collective advocacy efforts at the European and international levels. These efforts aim to truly embody the European motto ‘United in Diversity’ and to foster fairer and more resilient societies.

O ANALIZĂ A UNOR LUCRĂRI DE REFERINȚĂ PRIVIND CONSECINȚELE STEREOTIPURILOR ȘI PREJUDECĂȚILOR LEGATE DE VÂRSTNIC

As individuals age, they face increasing vulnerability, compounded by negative stereotypes associated with aging and perceived health decline, contributing to an overall negative perception of old age (Bugental și Hehman, 2007). This systematic review investigates the consequences of age-related stereotypes and prejudices over a 10-year period (2010–2020). Analyzing specialized literature, it uncovers evidence on how stereotypes impact mental health, performance, memory, driving skills, and sexual activity, significantly affecting well-being, cognitive decline, and exerting notable neurological impacts. This study explores implications at individual and organizational levels, emphasizing the integration of older individuals into diverse groups for enhanced well-being and increased productivity. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of challenging stereotypes, promoting positive aging narratives, and implementing targeted interventions, such as educational programs and intergenerational interactions, to foster inclusivity and combat ageism in society. Acknowledging and addressing these issues can contribute to creating a more respectful, supportive, and age-friendly environment.

Mapping Knowledge Structures and Trends on Walkability Studies

Walkability is a significant and well-known study to make the built environment to be walkable. However, there is a scarcity of material that aims to investigate the structure and research trends of walkability in recent years. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review is to investigate the structure and research trends in walkability. By applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) review method, a systematic literature review (SLR) identifies 50 studies by walkability from 2021 to 2022 from the 3 well-known databases for searching scientific publications including Web of Science, Scopus, and Sage. A mapping technique using VOSviewer to identify thematic focus is employed. Based on these 50 studies, it shows that the existing research on walkability within two years consists of some conceptual aspects that underlying walkability studies including ‘the built environment’, ‘walking’ and physical activity’, which then leads to one or some specific problems on physical or perceived factors which ultimately aim to create a walkable area. Hence, it is significant to do more research on the integration between factors in this field to solve the dependence on motorized transportation for future scholarly work. In addition, the usage of tools could enrich the existing literature on this field. It is also noted that various age perceptions to solve walkability issues need to be considered. The research also emphasizes significant authors, journals, references, countries, and organizations that have contributed to the development of the walkability literature to elaborate in more detail on thematic focus.

The Relationship between the Perception of Aging and Death Anxiety in the Older Adults of Eastern Iran during COVID-19

The perception of aging is widely acknowledged as a key determinant of personal satisfaction with the aging process, and it marks an individual’s adaptability to life changes. As older adults encounter psychophysical changes and disabilities, thoughts surrounding mortality often become more pronounced, leading to a surge in death anxiety, which is recognized as prevalent psychological distress among this population. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between aging perception and death anxiety among older adults in Eastern Iran during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This descriptive-analytical study included 300 older adults (118 men and 182 women) using a stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic survey, Barker’s Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (APQ), and Templer’s Death Anxiety Scale (DAS). Data were analyzed in SPSS software (V.22) using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, independent t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression. The mean aging perception score was 102.50 ± 15.55. After normalizing the scores, while the highest mean was related to the chronic and acute dimensions (65.32 ± 16.31), the lowest was related to the positive results dimension (65.29 ± 18.71). Also, the death anxiety score was 6.35 ± 1.99. The results from the linear regression analysis indicated an increase in negative emotions, correlating with an uptick in the death anxiety score (P=0.001). Furthermore, retired individuals had a higher death anxiety score than those still working (P=0.02). According to the results of this study, older adults with more negative emotions toward aging had higher death anxiety levels. Hence, interventions to foster positive emotions and attitudes towards aging are crucial to healthy aging. Moreover, considering the high level of death anxiety among retired people, further studies are required to investigate the mental health of this population.

Gaps and opportunities in addressing the needs of older adults in the Philippines and Vietnam: a qualitative exploration of health and social workers' experiences in urban care settings.

Despite numerous government initiatives, concerns and disparities among older adults have continually been growing. Empirical studies focused on older adults in the Philippines and Vietnam appear minimal and mostly regarding perceptions of aging. An effective geriatric care strongly relies on functional service providers requiring their perspectives to be explored toward inclusive service delivery. To investigate the perceived gaps and opportunities in geriatric care service delivery among health and social care workers in selected urban areas in the Philippines and Vietnam. A qualitative case study approach drawn on social constructivism theory, examined working experiences, observed characteristics of older adults, geriatric services and needs, difficulties on service delivery, and recommended solutions. A total of 12 semi-structured interviews and 29 focus group discussions were conducted in the Philippines, with 174 health and social care workers, while in Vietnam, there were 23 semi-structured interviews and 29 focus group discussions with 124 participants. An inductive thematic analysis was employed. Interview participants highlighted the increasing unmet needs such as accessibility, availability, and acceptability of geriatric care services. The implementation of interventions on the older population faced multiple challenges, including issues related to older adult conundrums and dilemmas in geriatric care providers and facilities. The participants from the two countries felt that strengthening implementation of collaboration toward an integrated geriatric care structure and expansion of training and capability in handling older adults can be potential in addressing the gaps at both individual and institutional levels. Additionally, a committed leadership was viewed to be the important step to effectively operationalize the strategy. Health and social workers emphasized that the needs of older adults are exacerbated by various challenges within a fragmented geriatric care system. To address this issue, an establishment of an integrated service delivery mechanism with dedicated leadership is needed. The findings from this study may help develop appropriate solutions for addressing the health and social care needs of older adults in similar settings across Southeast Asia. Further examination of the impact of these challenges and solutions on service delivery and the wellbeing of older adults is essential.

Особенности представления о старении у мужчин и женщин в периоды средней и поздней взрослости

The relevance of the study is determined by the necessity for scientific substantiation and development of methods aimed at improving the quality of life in the old age. The research purpose is to study the peculiarities of the perception of aging by men and women during middle and late adulthood. The study hypothesizes that peculiarities of the age perception by men and women are manifested in the idea of the causal role of aging in the context of changes in health, as well as in the emotional attitude towards aging. The gender and age specificity manifests itself in terms of positive and negative effects of aging, as well as in the changes caused by aging and the determination of its causes. Participants: 217 respondents aged 30-68 (nmale= 57; nfemale= 123) living in different regions of the Russian Federation. The sample is represented by 4 age groups: from 30 to 45 years old (n = 37); from 46 to 55 years old (n = 51); from 56 to 59 years old (n = 52); from 60 to 68 years old (n = 77). Methods (tools): to assess the perception of aging, the “Aging perception questionnaire” was used (E. Sexton, B. L. King-Kallimanis, K. Morgan, H. McGee as adapted by K. M. Krupina, M. D. Petrash, D. I. Golubitskaya, O. Y. Strizhitskaya). Results: the research has revealed significant differences in the manifestation degree of the parameter ‘determination of the causes of aging’ with its greater representation in the sample of men. The study has found the influence of the gender and age factor on the parameter ‘determination of the causes of aging’. Main conclusions: the causal role of aging for one’s own life is manifested to a greater extent in men rather than in women. The peculiarities of perceiving aging for male and female subsamples are manifested in different emotional attitudes towards aging, in the possibility of controlling one’s own life and the consequences of aging, as well as in determining the causes of aging. Practical significance: the data obtained can be implemented in psychological counseling in order to form a positive perception of aging. Taking into account the gender and age specifics of the perceiving aging can contribute to the construction of the productive old age stage and the subsequent improvement of the quality of life in old age.

피부노화 인식이 이너뷰티 구매 행동의도에 미치는 영향 연구

There has been a rising demand for rational and professional skincare habits to slow down or prevent skin aging. Under these circumstances, inner-beauty products have recently played a major trend. This study attempted to investigate the perception of skin aging and inner-beauty product purchase behavior intention-related factors against adult women and analyze their correlations, and the results found the followings: First, the perception of skin aging had a statistically significant influence on inner-beauty purchase behavior intention. Second, the perception of skin aging revealed a statistically significant effect on skincare behavior. Third, skincare behavior affected inner-beauty purchase behavior intention with statistical significance. Fourth, skincare behavior between perception of skin aging and inner-beauty purchase behavior intention revealed a statistically significant influence as a mediator variable. The above results confirm that perception of skin aging and skincare behavior such as use of cosmetics have an influence on inner-beauty purchase behavior intention. It is anticipated that the study results would be available as basic data for developing inner-beauty products and marketing strategies.

How Perceptions of Aging Influence Physical Activity and Exercise in Older Age: Exploring the Behavior of People Aged 70+ Years Engaged in Fall Prevention Activities.

For older people, physical inactivity increases fall risk as well as other preventable health conditions. Despite the well-documented benefits of physical activity, uptake and adherence continue to challenge efforts aimed at increasing physical activity and reducing falls. Nested within a randomized controlled trial, this study reports on the factors influencing the physical activity behavior of people, aged between 70 and 90years, engaged in StandingTall, a home-based balance exercise program proven to reduce falls in the community. The perception of aging, physical activity in older age, and the delivery of exercise were identified as major themes, with the perception of aging an overarching theme influencing both preferences for physical activity in older age and exercise delivery. Findings demonstrate the importance of considering the role of aging, the influence aging has on physical activity and exercise behavior, and how aging influences the delivery and design of exercise programs including falls prevention activities for older people.

LetibotulinumtoxinA Attenuates the Psychological Burden of Glabellar Lines and Is Associated With High Subject Satisfaction in Phase 3 Clinical Trials.

Hyperfunctional glabellar frown lines can transmit facial miscues that adversely affect emotional communication, increase perceptions of age, and diminish self-esteem. To evaluate the efficacy of letibotulinumtoxinA in mitigating the negative psychological impact associated with moderate to severe glabellar lines and to assess subject satisfaction with treatment outcome in the BLESS phase 3 clinical trials. Baseline and posttreatment assessments were made using validated subject-administered instruments: Modified Skindex-16 Glabellar Line Quality of Life (GL-QoL) Scale, Facial Assessment and Cosmetic Evaluation Questionnaire (FACE-Q) Appraisal of Lines Between Eyebrows Scale, FACE-Q Age Appraisal Visual Analog Scale, and FACE-Q Satisfaction with Outcome Scale. An integrated analysis using pooled BLESS data was conducted on these secondary end points. Among enrolled and treated subjects ( N = 1,272), 85.5% had moderate to severe psychological impact at baseline. LetibotulinumtoxinA subjects experienced significant improvements compared with placebo on all measures. Mean improvement to Week 4 for the Modified Skindex-16 GL-QoL Scale overall score was -33.84 for letibotulinumtoxinA subjects compared with -1.37 for placebo subjects ( p < .001). Attenuation of psychological burden was highly correlated with improvement in glabellar line severity ( p < .0001). LetibotulinumtoxinA significantly improved the psychosocial burden associated with glabellar lines across all trials. Treated subjects experienced improved quality of life, younger perceived age, and satisfaction with treatment outcome.

Public perception on active aging after COVID-19: an unsupervised machine learning analysis of 44,343 posts.

To analyze public perceptions of active aging in China on mainstream social media platforms to determine whether the "14th Five Year Plan for the Development of the Aging Career and Older Adult Care System" issued by the CPC in 2022 has fully addressed public needs. The original tweets posted on Weibo between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022, containing the words "aging" or "old age" were extracted. A bidirectional encoder representation from transformers (BERT)-based model was used to generate themes related to this perception. A qualitative thematic analysis and an independent review of the theme labels were conducted by the researchers. The findings indicate that public perceptions revolved around four themes: (1) health prevention and protection, (2) convenient living environments, (3) cognitive health and social integration, and (4) protecting the rights and interests of the older adult. Our study found that although the Plan aligns with most of these themes, it lacks clear planning for financial security and marital life.

Perception of age, gender, and talker height from children’s vowels

In his 1989 review of vowel perception [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 85, 2088–2113], Terry Nearey observed that the acoustic properties of vowels vary substantially across talkers due to differences in talker size. Taller speakers tend to have lower formant frequencies and lower fundamental frequencies than shorter speakers, and listeners appear to take these relationships into account in vowel identification. In this talk, we follow up some of the questions raised in that paper, reviewing recent findings on the perception of age, gender, and talker height in children’s voices. Children exhibit substantial age-related changes in fundamental and formant frequencies due to growth of the larynx and vocal tract, presenting an interesting opportunity to explore the perceptual consequences of these changes. Listeners’ perceptual judgments of age and gender reveal complex interdependencies, consistent with the idea that these indexical attributes are jointly estimated, in a manner that reflects their shared dependence on acoustic parameters related to perceived talker height.

Disordered spatial pattern of redness signal on facial skin and visual perception of health, stress, and hidden aging.

Well-being is commonly communicated across industries; however, experimental understanding how human perceive skin health and skin stresses are not sufficient. Image analysis algorithm, a* gradient, was developed to evaluate spatial pattern and shape of red signal on skin. Human perception for skin health and stresses were compared with technical measurements in two visual perception studies. a* gradient correlated with perceived Inflamed Skin (R=0.73, p<0.01), Stressed Skin (R=0.79, p<0.01), Sensitive Skin (R=0.75, p<0.01), Healthy Skin (R=-0.83, p<0.01), and Start Aging (R=0.75, p<0.01). Disordered spatial pattern of redness signal drives human perception of skin health, stress, and aging. This new skin index of redness signal shows higher correlation with those human perception than basal a* mean, unevenness of a*, and other conventional skin color attributes.

Situating the light: Methodology for sensory and spatial fieldwork

Sensory perceptions are a novel point of departure for lighting research, where human factors have long been approached through isolated variables and controlled environments. However, informed by philosophy and social sciences and supported by ethnographical methods, researchers and practitioners are gaining new ground in understanding human-environment relations by approaching user perspectives in empirical inquiries. Situating the lighting in spatial settings and sensory experiences is crucial when exploring the dynamics of the changing visual perception of aging and vision loss, and how these phenomena can affect everyday life. Although spatial and sensory perceptions have typically been approached from different positions represented by architects or anthropologists, the following question remains: How can we develop a methodological framework for exploring entwined sensory and spatial experiences? This paper presents the method development process for our upcoming sensory and spatial fieldwork in the project “The role of light when vision changes.” The process is described in autoethnographic narratives, analysis of the technological frames, approaches, and understandings of light represented in the project, and the knowledge gained from testing the developed tools and schemes hands-on in a home environment. The initial findings indicate that both spatial and sensory experiences are interactional, as experiences situated in a specific body interacting with the specific environment it is situated in. Furthermore, in addition to the changes in visual perception, the spatial and luminous characteristics of the indoor and outdoor environments are also dynamic and changing, making the aspects of transitions and thresholds relevant for our upcoming fieldwork. Our hypothesis is that the shared technological frame developed in the project includes the relevant qualitative and quantitative measures that will allow us to make the knowledge of visually impaired participants explicit in ways that will inform and improve future lighting design.