Self-perceptions Of Aging Research Articles

Leisure Engagement and Self-Perceptions of Aging: Longitudinal Analysis of Concurrent and Lagged Relationships.

There is evidence to suggest that leisure engagement may influence self-perceptions of aging, but disentangling potential bidirectionality in this relationship is challenging. A better understanding of the directionality of this association is essential for designing more effective interventions to promote healthy aging. We, therefore, tested concurrent effects and lagged effects in both directions for a univariate measure of leisure engagement as well as specific domains of community, cognitive, creative, and physical activities. A total of 17,753 adults aged 50 or above living in the United States from the Health and Retirement Study were included in the analysis. They provided 32,703 observations over 3 waves between 2008/2010 and 2016/2018. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling with both concurrent and lagged associations between self-perceptions of aging and leisure engagement, controlling for confounders including age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic position, and health conditions. We found consistent evidence for leisure engagement as a predictor of self-perceptions of aging. There was also evidence for a reciprocal relationship where leisure engagement was predicted by older adults' self-perceptions of aging. Similar results were observed for specific domains of leisure engagement. Our findings provide empirical support for the potential benefits of leisure engagement on positive self-perceptions of aging, regardless of the type of activities. Our study also highlights the importance to consider the directionality in researching leisure engagement and self-perceptions of aging.

The Potential of Informal Care for Self-Perceptions of Aging Among Older Community-Dwelling Adults: Longitudinal Findings From the Health and Retirement Study.

This is the first study to analyze, whether receipt of (informal) care with (instrumental) activities of daily living (IADL/ADL) is associated with (positive and negative) self-perceptions of aging among community-dwelling older adults; and whether chronological age moderates these associations, using a longitudinal design. Longitudinal data of the Health and Retirement Study in the United States was used. The sample was composed of up to 9,198 observations of community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years pooled over 6 waves (2008-2018). Receiving care at all and the amount of care received with (I)ADL were analyzed in association with positive and negative attitudes towards own aging (ATOA; 8-item modified Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale, positive and negative subscore). Adjusted fixed effects regression analyses with robust standard errors were calculated. Transitioning into receipt of care with any (I)ADL was associated with lower positive ATOA but not with any change in negative ATOA. Chronological age moderated the association between receipt of informal care, primarily with IADL, and negative ATOA. More negative ATOA was found among care recipients between 50 and 64 years but less among care recipients aged ≥80 years. Receiving any form of informal care was associated with an increase in internalized ageism, in particular among adults aged 50 to 64 years, but a decrease among those aged ≥80 years. Psycho-educative measures are recommended for adults with care needs to prevent a loss of positive self-perceptions of aging, and reduce the danger to their healthy aging, with the receipt of care.

SELF-PERCEPTIONS OF AGING AMONG VERY OLD PARENTS AND THEIR OLD CHILDREN IN KOREA

Abstract Research has documented the health consequences of how individuals view their own age-related changes and aging (i.e., self-perceptions of aging) in later life. However, less is known about how individuals’ self-perceptions of aging are shaped by their intergenerational experiences. This study aims to examine very old parents’ and their old children’s self-perceptions of aging within the dyads—where parents and children age together. Utilizing data from 105 dyads of parents (aged 81+) and their children (aged 65+) in South Korea, we examined how parents’ and children’s health status and care experiences are associated with their self-perceptions on aging. On average, parents reported less positive self-perceptions of aging than their children; parents’ self-perceptions of aging were positively correlated with their child’s self-perceptions of aging. A path model found that care experiences within the parent-child dyads were significantly associated with self-perceptions of aging for both parents and children—such that more caregiving burden was associated with less positive self-perceptions of aging for children and higher levels of satisfaction with received care from the child were associated with more positive self-perceptions of aging for parents. However, health status was significant only for parents; that is, parents with fewer functional limitations in activities of daily living tended to show more positive self-perceptions of aging. The findings highlight the interdependence of self-perceptions of aging within the parent-child dyads in very late life, suggesting that care experiences within the prolonged relationship constellation should be considered to enhance older adults’ views on age-related gains and loss.

DOES INTERNET USE PROMOTE OLDER ADULTS’ SELF-PERCEPTION OF AGING: SEPARATING WITHIN- AND BETWEEN-PERSON EFFECTS

Abstract Previous longitudinal studies indicate a positive causal association between older adults’ Internet use and self-perception of aging (SPA). However, it is unclear whether this positive effect is truly due to the lagged within-person changes in Internet use or due to some stable, trait-like between-person differences. Thus, with between-person differences controlled, this study aimed to 1) examine reciprocal associations of within-person SPA and Internet use and 2) investigate the potential age, gender, race/ethnicity, and education group differences. Data used in this study were from the Health and Retirement Study (T1: 2008; T2: 2012; T3: 2016). Older adults aged 65 and older with normal cognition were included in the analysis (n = 6,666). Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) were applied to separate the within- and between-person effects regarding the associations between SPA and Internet use. Multiple-group analyses were used for testing group differences. Results showed positive carry-over stability of both Internet use and SPA across time. At the within-person level, only one cross-lagged path, Internet use (T1) ♢ SPA (T2), was significant (b = .08, p < .05), indicating that the within-person Internet use change was predictive of within-person SPA change at T2. At the between-person level, SPA and ICT use were positively correlated (r = .16, p < .001). No group differences were identified. This study indicates that the positive effects of Internet use on SPA may be largely due to between-person differences. Internet use may promote SPA to some extent, but effects may plateau after a certain period of time.

EFFECTS OF SELF-PERCEPTIONS OF AGING ON COGNITIVE HEALTH: MEDIATING ROLE OF SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS

Abstract Cognitive decline is one of the most common age-related stereotypes. The stereotype embodiment theory suggests that negative age stereotypes can be internalized through socialization and become negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA). However, the potential mediating role social relationships play between SPA and cognitive health remains unclear. Using three-wave data spanning eight years (2008/2010 – 2016/2018) from the Health and Retirement Study, this study aims to examine (1) SPA’s long-term effects on changes in cognitive health; and (2) the mediating role of social isolation and loneliness (N = 3,569, Mage = 72.30). SPA was measured by an 8-item scale. Cognitive health was measured by immediate and delayed word list recall. Social isolation was measured using network size, network diversity, frequency of contact with networks, and frequency of social participation. Loneliness was measured using the 11-item UCLA Loneliness scale. We controlled for baseline measures of the dependent variables and health-related and sociodemographic covariates. We found that negative SPA at baseline was associated with memory decline eight years later (b = -0.03, SE = 0.02, p < 0.05). The path analysis revealed that social isolation and loneliness were mediators between SPA and cognitive health, with social isolation accounting for 15% and loneliness accounting for another 32% of the total effects. The results suggest that social isolation and loneliness are pathways by which SPA exerts adverse effects on memory among older adults. Negative SPA should be a target for intervention. In addition, social relationship building could alleviate the impact of SPA on cognitive health.

MORE FILIAL PIETY FROM ADULT CHILDREN, MORE POSITIVE SELF-PERCEPTION OF AGING IN OLDER PARENTS?

Abstract Filial piety, as a central concept in Confucianism, is about the ideas of how children should treat their parents. Previous studies on filial piety have focused on older generation’s well-being. However, whether filial piety of adult children could influence their parents’ self-perception of aging on a longitudinal dyad basis is largely unknown. Drawing on the Dual Filial Piety Model and the intergenerational contact perspective, we investigated the differential impacts of authoritarian vs. reciprocal filial piety of adult children on older parents’ self-perception of aging using a longitudinal parent-child dyads dataset from a large population-based survey (i.e., Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, CLHLS) from wave 2002 to wave 2005. Self-perception of aging of older parents was measured at two time points, authoritarian and reciprocal filial piety of adult children was measured at wave 2002. Latent change score modeling was performed on a 2387 parent-child dyads sample (Mage = 80.03, SD = 9.86 for parent; Mage = 48.54, SD = 8.10 for child) to test our research hypothesis. Results showed only reciprocal filial piety of adult child at wave 2002 could positively predicted their parents’ latent change score of self-perception of aging 3 years later, after controlling for potential covariates. Our study suggested that the effects of adult children’s filial piety might have different effects on parents’ aging attitude, such that a reciprocal parent-child relationship rather than child’s submission to parents could improve parents’ attitude toward their own aging.

SELF-PERCEPTION OF AGING AND THE SELF-REPORTED HEALTH/FRAILTY PARADOX

Abstract We aimed to study the cross-sectional association between self-perception of aging (SPA) and frailty paradox, defined as self-reporting excellent/very good health despite being frail or fair/poor health despite being robust. The study sample included 2,950 participants from the Health and Retirement Study (2008 wave) who were 65 years and older, completed the Psychosocial and Lifestyle Questionnaire, and had no missing data on the variables included in the models. Frailty was measured by the physical frailty phenotype. Self-reported health (SRH) was rated as either excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor. SPA was measured using an 8-item questionnaire spanning subjective well-being, positive affect, and life satisfaction; respondents rated their agreement with statements such as “Things keep getting worse as I get older” and “So far, I am satisfied with the way I am aging.” Negative statements were reverse-coded and the average of all items was calculated; higher scores indicated more positive SPA. 181 (6%) participants met the criteria for the frailty paradox: 54 reported being in excellent/very good health despite being classified as frail, while 127 reported fair/poor health despite being classified as robust. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, including age, sex, race, education, and comorbidity burden, we found that individuals with higher SPA scores had greater odds of excellent/very good SRH despite frailty. Specifically, the odds nearly doubled for every one unit increase in SPA score (p-value< 0.01). Positive self-perception of aging may be a potential interventional buffer against negative impact of physical frailty on self-assessment of overall health status.

SELF-PERCEPTIONS OF AGING AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL RESOURCE FOR ENRICHMENT SEEKING

Abstract In older adulthood, positive perceptions of one’s own aging can facilitate enrichment seeking–the underlying motivation to seek out new experiences and perform intellectually challenging activities–by diminishing and buffering reactions to perceived threats to one’s sense of self and perceived capabilities. In this study, we examined the extent to which self-perceptions of aging were associated with cognitive performance and affective experience while completing a series of challenging foraging tasks in the form of word puzzle games within the presence and absence of resources in the environment, such as a fireplace or an observing neurologist. The study employed a 2x2 within-person design (fireplace on vs. not; neurologist present vs. not) and took place within the home office of a home simulation environment. In each of the four conditions, 61 participants (age 50-82, 57% female) played the foraging task and then endorsed adjectives representing their feelings while playing that game. Multilevel models, which nested study stages within participants, showed individuals with higher self-perceptions of aging benefited significantly from both environmental manipulations, with the fireplace acting as environmental support and the observing neurologist raising the stakes of the task. However, despite providing additional motivation and being associated with stronger cognitive performance, the neurologist’s presence also provoked a higher negative affect response. The relationship between self-perceptions of aging and receptiveness to environmental resources merits further investigation to assess how certain environmental resources might act as a moderator of both cognition and affect.

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG PLACE ATTACHMENT, SELF-PERCEPTION OF AGING, AND SOCIAL PARTICIPATION

Abstract In the context of aging in place, the purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between place attachment, self-perception of aging and social participation of middle-aged and older adults living in the community. The study sample consisted of 226 people aged 50 and over that lived in an urban community in Tainan city, Taiwan. The instrument used were questionnaires that included socio-demographics, health status, and scales for the three main variables. The data was analyzed using correlation, linear regression and mediation testing. The result showed a significant positive correlation between place attachment and both positive and negative self-perception of aging. Furthermore, it was found that negative self-perception of aging and place attachment had significant effects on social participation. Specifically, individuals with lower levels of negative self-perception of aging and higher levels of place attachment showed higher levels of social participation. Finally, the mediation analysis indicated that place attachment played a partial mediating role in the relationship between negative self-perception of aging and social participation. This means that under the positive effect of place attachment, social participation of middle-aged and older adults with negative self-perception of aging can still be increased. In conclusion, based on the interaction between aging and the environment, in addition to the importance of reducing negative views on aging, this study sheds light on the power of emotional bonds with living place in promoting active and healthy aging in familiar neighborhoods.

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.

INTERGENERATIONAL CONTACT AND THE BENEFITS FOR OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Intergenerational contact can be in a variety of forms, from day-to-day interaction between family members, such as filial piety expressed by the younger generation, to artificial contact in an on-line game context. No matter what form of intergenerational contact, it is believed that such contact should be beneficial for older adults for many reasons. For example, it can help to reduce feelings of loneliness, stress and provide a greater sense of purpose. It can also help to foster a greater appreciation for differences between generations and create stronger social connections with those of different ages. It can also boost mental health, physical health, and even reduce the risk of depression. In a group of 5 individual presentations, the authors showcased that intergenerational contact could promote life satisfaction in a 5-year-interval (Ayalon & Dikla), reduce ageist attitudes toward older adults in an on-line game context (Xi, Chang, Zhang, & Ayalon), foster positive self-perception of aging (Chang & Zhang; and Tse), as well as enhance health information-seeking behaviors (Zhao, Song, & Song). These results indicated that even from different cultural background (e.g., Chinese or Americans), a positive intergenerational contact, such as providing social support to aged parents, collaborating with partners from different age groups, and even offer kindness actions toward people of a different age group could indeed be beneficial. These studies provided theoretical insights for the intergenerational contact literature, and highlighted important practical implications for potential interventions to facilitate successful aging for older adults.

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.

READY OR NOT: A DRAMA THERAPY STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE ON WORKING WITH OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Drama therapy has the potential to positively influence the lives of older adults in many facets, i.e., improving self-perceptions of aging (Dokter & Sajnani, 2023), attention, depressive symptoms, and overall quality of life (Lin et al., 2022). But drama therapists may also inadvertently cause harm, reenacting narratives of infantilization and indignity, or reinforcing the socially prescribed roles available to older adults (Dokter & Sajnani, 2023). Training and education may minimize harm and maximize positive outcomes; however, despite growing numbers of drama therapists and drama therapy interns working with older populations, the training of drama therapists minimally reflects this shift. Currently, a total of 800 internship hours, representing work with at least two distinct populations, are required to graduate from New York University with a Master of Arts in Drama Therapy and to qualify for a provisional license. While older adults may represent one of these populations, no courses in aging are required. One elective course, Drama Therapy and Aging: From Midlife to Elderhood, is offered once every two years. In a two-year program, this course may only become available after a student has begun their fieldwork. In this presenter’s case, the aging elective was taken concurrently with the start of her fieldwork at an assisted living facility working with persons living with dementia on a secured unit. Benefits and limitations of this student’s preparation to provide successful therapeutic experiences for individuals in this environment are considered, as well as the perceived implications for their future career as a drama therapist.

Associations between self-perceptions of aging and social functioning in older adults: An analysis based on health and retirement study data

ObjectivesSelf-perception of aging (SPA) and social functioning are two important variables in the process of healthy aging, but the relationship between them is still unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between SPA and social functioning in older adults. MethodsWe conducted a longitudinal study utilizing data from the Health and Retirement Study. The sample comprised individuals aged 50 and above. Socio-demographic, psychosocial, and lifestyle information of study participants was systematically collected at baseline (2012 and 2014) and during follow-up four years later (2016 and 2018). SPA was measured using a scale assessing individuals' attitudes toward their aging process. Social functioning was evaluated through 22 questions, reflecting individuals' abilities to engage in and perform various roles and tasks in their daily lives. Multilevel modeling was employed to analyze the relationship between SPA and social functioning. Differences in social functioning changes among various SPA groups were assessed through the Generalized Estimating Equations methodology. ResultsThe study included 8,454 participants with an average age of 68.3 years (SD = 9.92). The multilevel model revealed a significant correlation between SPA and social functioning (β = 0.131; P < 0.001). This relationship persisted after adjusting the model (β = 0.088; P < 0.001). Generalized Estimating Equations indicated noteworthy differences in social functioning changes among distinct SPA groups (P = 0.034). DiscussionPositive SPA is associated with the healthy social functioning of older adults. Healthcare providers could target modifiable aspects of SPA to enhance the social function of older adults and promote successful aging.

The Relationship between Subjective Aging and Cognition in Elderly People: A Systematic Review.

There is a growing body of evidence on the effects of subjective aging on health, well-being and quality of life. This review aims to synthesize findings about the link between subjective aging and cognition and cognitive decline. Furthermore, it provides an examination of variation sources such as subjective aging construct, cognitive domains, measures employed, age and moderator variables. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, PsychInfo and Web of Science, as well as grey literature searches in Google Scholar, OpenGrey, WorldCat and NDLTD, which resulted in 59 reports being included. Subjective aging is a relevant construct in the explanation and prediction of cognitive aging and cognitive decline in elderly adults. More positive views about own aging and self-perceptions of aging, as well as a younger subjective age, were consistently related to better cognition and lower risk of cognitive decline. However, there were differences due to subjective aging subdimensions and cognitive domains, as well as an effect of age. Additionally, there were concerns about the content validity of some measures employed, such as the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale for subjective aging and the Mini Mental State Examination for global cognition. Further studies should employ longitudinal designs with a process-based approach to cognition and precise subjective aging measures.

Self Perceptions of Stress in Caregiving Moderate Associations of Within and Between Caregivers’ Physical Health Symptoms

AbstractBackgroundThe success of dementia care requires the full support from the caregivers with the goal of delaying the disease’s progress. Studies over decades have reinforced that the knowledge, attitude, and skills of caregivers are crucial parameters of the success of in‐community care for dementia. Nevertheless, studies have identified that many caregivers, across different culture and ethicity, are not well prepared emotionally or practically to be the caregivers and this will result in stress, particularly when their stress are ignored by medical professionals during this long journey of care.MethodThis is a mixed‐method research to examine how self‐perceptions of aging (SPA) moderated within‐ and between‐caregivers Self‐perceived stress (SPS) associations with physiological health symptoms (PHS) and daily physical health symptoms (DPHS). SPA was measured by the Philadelphia Geriatric Centre Morale scale. SPS was measured by Zarit Burden Interview Scale and Revised Memory and Behaviour Problem Checklist. DPHS was measured daily through an adapted symptom checklist.ResultA pilot study of 20 caregivers reported significantly more physical health symptoms compared to individuals with lower perceived stress on average (p &lt; .05). SPA significantly moderated associations between both within‐ and between‐persons perceived stress (SPS) and physiological health symptoms (PHS) (ps &lt; .05).ConclusionMore positive SPA significantly dampened the impact of perceived stress, suggesting the importance of SPA as an individual characteristic within stress processes. Future work should examine how daily changes in SPA may exacerbate or mitigate the impacts of daily stress processes and health outcomes.

Differences in self-perceptions of aging across the adult lifespan: The sample case of awareness of age-related gains and losses.

Rooted in the premises of lifespan developmental theory, the concept of awareness of age-related change (AARC) posits that growing older comes with both experiences of gains and losses across different behavioral domains. However, little is known about how age-related change is perceived across the entire adult lifespan, provided that respective measures can be validly compared. Further, few studies have adopted an approach that examines gains and losses simultaneously to study a potential shift in the ratio of perceived age-related gains and losses from adolescence to advanced old age. Using cross-sectional data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, this study tested the measurement invariance of the 10-item AARC short form and examined age differences in the awareness of age-related changes across 1,612 participants aged 16-93 years. First, partial measurement invariance of the AARC-Gains and AARC-Losses scales was established, allowing for valid group comparisons across young adulthood, midlife, and old age. Second, results indicated that people experience more AARC-Gains than AARC-Losses throughout the adult lifespan. However, older adults exhibited an increasingly less favorable gains-to-losses ratio, primarily driven by more loss experiences. Gain experiences were mostly stable across age groups. Third, differences in levels of AARC were related to individuals' background characteristics relevant at the respective time of life, such as education (early adulthood), employment (midlife), and social resources (old age). These results highlight the utility of considering a broad age range when examining the nature and correlates of age differences in perceived age-related gains and losses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Understanding Health, Subjective Aging, and Participation in Social Activities in Later Life: A Regional Finnish Survey.

To understand health and well-being in later life, it is vital to consider the meaning of subjective aging. This study aimed to explore how perceived health, self-perceptions of aging, and participation in social activities relate to each other among older persons in the Bothnia region and Åland islands in Finland. Data were analyzed using Spearman's and polychoric correlation and multinomial logistic regression analyses. The perceived good health and the younger physical, psychological, and social dimensions of subjective age were found to be associated with each other and with participation in social activities outside one's home.

P126: Older adults’ psychological distress: exploring the role of implicit age stereotypes

Objective:Self-perceptions of aging seem to be a key variable to understand physical and mental health (see the systematic review conducted by Tully-Wilson et al., 2021). Following Levy’s (2003) stereotype embodiment theory, negative attitudes towards aging originate as aging stereotypes (e.g., “older people are frail”; Warmoth et al., 2016) during childhood. They are internalized and reinforced in adulthood, both consciously and below conscious awareness, becoming aging self-stereotypes in old age and affecting self-perceptions of aging (Levy, 2003). Kordnat et al. (2016) developed an implicit association test (IAT; Greenwald et al., 1998) to assess implicit age stereotypes for specific life domains (health and family domains) across the life span and found positive stereotypes towards older people for family domain and negative for health domain. However, the associations between implicit age stereotypes and adults’ psychological distress have been scarcely analyzed. The aims of this communication are: a) to present the preliminary data of the validation of the implicit association test (IAT, Greenwald et al., 1998) to measure implicit aging stereotypes and b) to explore the relationship between implicit aging stereotypes and older adults’ psychological distress (loneliness, guilt associated with self-perception as a burden, and anxiety and depressive symptoms).Methods:The IAT used is an adaptation of the IAT developed by Kordnat et al. (2016). The IAT explores the relationship between the categories of sickness/health and old/young age. The task has a target category that consists of: a) a set of 6 words of physical and mental sickness (e.g., frail, weak, sad, lonely) and 6 words of physical and mental health (e.g., healthy, energetic, happy, in company); and b) 6 photos of old people and 6 photos of young people.Results:Preliminary results of the implicit aging stereotypes task associations with older adults’ psychological distress in 100 community dwelling older adults will be presented.Conclusion:Findings will be discussed. The implicit (below awareness) assessment of the aging stereotypes with the IAT in older adults could provide a better understanding of the role of aging stereotypes in older adults’ psychological distress, avoiding the weaknesses of assessing the construct through self-report measures.

P90: The indirect role of supportive dyadic coping in the association between self- perceptions of aging and depression

Objective:it has been shown that having negative-self perceptions of aging significantly predicts depressive symptomatology. Although the partner relationship may have an impact on the effects of perception of aging on distress, the number of studies assessing the effect of partner on negative self-perception of aging and mental health is limited. The stress of one partner may elicit dyadic coping (DC) responses in the other partner. The stress of one partner may elicit dyadic coping responses in the other partner. Depending on whether the responses are positive (supportive) or negative (hostile)a close relationship can go along with additional stress or resources and benefits. The present study analyzes the relationship between negative self-stereotypes and depressive symptomatology, considering the partner’s dyadic coping as a moderator variable in this association.Method:Participants were 365 individuals (59.3% women) 40 years or older (M= 60.86, SD=10.66) involved in a marital/partner relationship. Participants completed a questionnaire that included the variables: negative self-perception of aging, positive DC (e.g., “My partner shows empathy and understanding to me”), negative DC (e.g., “When I am stressed, my partner tends to withdraw”), and depressive symptomatology. Two moderation models were tested by linear regression: the first considered positive DC and the second negative DC as a moderator in the relationship between negative self-perception of aging and depressive symptoms.Results:The effect of negative self-perceptions of aging on depressive symptoms was smaller among those who perceived higher levels of positive DC and lower levels of negative DC by their partners than among those perceiving lower positive DC and higher negative DC. The influence of supportive dyadic coping was higher when the levels of negative self-perception of aging were higher. Gender was a determinant factor in the moderation.Conclusions:Positive DC mitigates the negative effects of negative self-perception of aging on wellbeing (by the mechanism of moderation), while negative DC amplifies this association and goes along with lower well-being in persons who report negative self-perceptions of aging. Training couples in supportive dyadic coping may be a resource to buffer the negative effect of negative self-perceptions of aging on well-being.