View Of Aging Research Articles

Examining the malleability of implicit views of aging in middle-aged and older adults.

Negative views of aging (VoA) present a motivational barrier to healthy aging. Although prior interventions have demonstrated success in making adults' negative VoA more positive, reliance on self-report-based explicit measures is insufficient to examine whether these interventions also affected individuals' implicit VoA. Thus, this study assessed the impact of the AgingPLUS program, a 4-week psychoeducational intervention, on implicit measures of VoA in a randomized controlled trial. Participants aged 45-75 years (Mage = 60.1 years, SDage = 8.3) were randomized to either the AgingPLUS program (n = 162) or a health education control group (n = 173). Implicit VoA were assessed using two computer-administered tasks: the Implicit Association Test and a lexical decision-making task. Data on implicit VoA were collected at baseline and two follow-up assessments over a 32-week period and analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. The results showed limited evidence of temporal changes or group differences regarding implicit VoA. However, participants with more positive baseline implicit VoA demonstrated greater improvements in explicit VoA, particularly in their awareness of age-related gains. Overall, explicit intervention approaches, such as the AgingPLUS program, can lead to substantial improvements in adults' self-reported VoA, although their effect on implicit VoA remains unclear. The findings underscore the importance of future interventions to (a) evaluate both explicit and implicit VoA and (b) tailor intervention designs to specific outcomes to achieve sustained, long-term positive changes in negative VoA. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Codesigning training for health providers to improve detection and response to elder abuse.

Screening for elder abuse can improve detection, but many health providers lack the necessary skills and confidence. To address this, training for health providers on elder abuse screening was co-designed as part of a trial aimed at improving elder abuse detection and response. Between March and April 2023, 7 health providers and 10 older people and family carers participated in two national Australian online codesign workshops. Using the World Café method, discussions focused on what knowledge and skills health providers needed for screening; clinical and social issues affecting screening and referral; and support older people needed throughout the process. Data were thematically analyzed. Participants said health providers should take a trauma-informed, person-centered approach to screening, and explain the limits of confidentiality to older people. Clinical, social, and systemic issues such as dementia, ethnic diversity, and housing availability complicated screening and referrals. To facilitate disclosure, participants said health providers needed to reflect on whether they held ageist views. There were differing opinions on the length of the training and if all health providers or only social workers should screen for abuse. Participants' feedback on trauma-informed care, consent, and cognitive impairment concorded with evidence on best practice responses to elder abuse and were integrated in the training. Given operational constraints in health services, feedback from health providers about the training length and the inclusion of all health providers in screening were prioritized. The training is being evaluated in a national trial.

Personal views of aging in midlife and older age: the role of personality.

Personal views of aging (VoA) reflect individuals' perceptions, attitudes, and expectations regarding their aging selves. The present cross-sectional study was aimed at examining whether personality traits, as defined by the Big Five model, are associated with different VoA concepts related to both subjective age and awareness of age-related gains and losses in midlife and older age. A sample of 224 participants aged 46-85 years reported their felt age and completed the Awareness of Age-Related Change (AARC) questionnaire, assessing perceptions of age-related gains (AARC-Gains) and losses (AARC-Losses) in various functioning domains, as well as the short version of the Big Five Inventory. Linear regression models showed that Openness contributed to explain youthful subjective age. Extraversion explained higher AARC-Gains scores, whereas Emotional Stability, along with younger chronological age and perceiving better self-rated health, contributed to explaining lower AARC-Losses scores. These findings confirm the relationship between personality traits and personal VoA. They further suggest that such an association varies depending on the VoA measure considered. They underscore the importance of considering personality among those individual characteristics capable of shaping personal VoA, with implications for the development of tailored interventions and the understanding of the underlying mechanisms linking personal VoA to health and longevity outcomes in midlife and older age.

Older adults’ subjective aging perceptions, mentalization, and social relationships: a micro-longitudinal study

Objectives Social relationships are associated with various positive physical, psychological, and emotional outcomes in older adults. In line with the growing understanding of the role of subjective views of aging (VoA) for older adults’ quality of life, the current work examines how daily fluctuations in VoA affect social relationships. Moreover, as the ability to mentalize others’ states of mind (i.e. Theory of Mind) considerably enhances such relationships, this study assesses whether mentalization abilities mediate the VoA-social relationships link. Method Eighty-two Israeli older adults (mean age = 73.44, SD = 8.64, range = 60–95) completed a baseline online questionnaire containing background information, and subsequently filled out daily online questionnaires assessing ageist attitudes, subjective age, mentalization abilities, and positive social relationships for 14 consecutive days. Results Positive VoA (reduced ageist attitudes and/or a young subjective age) were associated with enhanced mentalization and positive relationships on a given day and in time-lagged analyses. Moreover, mentalization mediated the effect of previous-day VoA on next-day positive social relationships. VoA also mediated the effect of previous-day mentalization on next-day positive social relationships. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of mentalization capabilities for maintaining positive VoA/social relationships and expands the understanding of underlying factors associated with meaningful and close relationships in older adults.

Cultural Differences in Daily Coupling of Subjective Views of Aging and Negative Affect.

The established link between subjective views of aging (VoA) and well-being shows variations across different cultures. Although VoA show daily fluctuations, little is known about cultural differences in such fluctuations and the daily coupling of VoA and well-being. We compared Israeli Arabs to Israeli Jews in the daily coupling of VoA and negative affect (NA). Community-dwelling older adults (N = 76, Mage = 66.71) completed measures of subjective age, subjective accelerated aging, ageist attitudes, and NA over 14 consecutive days. Respondents reported higher daily NA when they felt older, reported to be aging faster, or had more ageist attitudes. The daily coupling between subjective age/subjective accelerated aging and NA was stronger among Israeli Arabs compared to Israeli Jews. There was no such interaction with ageist attitudes. It is important to adopt a cultural perspective when investigating daily fluctuations in VoA and their correlates. In applied contexts, this might help to identify cultural groups that are particularly sensitive to the effects of VoA.

Longevity as a Responsibility: Constructing Healthy Aging by Enacting within Contexts over the Entire Lifespan.

Studying aging now requires going beyond the bio-psycho-social model and incorporating a broader multidisciplinary view capable of capturing the ultimate complexity of being human that is expressed as individuals age. Current demographic trends and the lengthening of life expectancies allow the observation of long-lived individuals in full health. These super-agers are no longer an exception. Indeed, individuals can have a good quality of life even over age 70 and living with chronic or neurodegenerative diseases. This change is driven in part by the cohort effect observed in people who are about to age today (e.g., better schooling, more advanced health conditions, and technologization) but more so by the gradual overcoming of ageist views. An aged person is no longer seen as a quitter but rather as one empowered to direct their own trajectory of potentially healthy longevity. According to this vision, this article proposes a situated lifespan perspective for the study of aging that integrates pedagogical models of developmental ecology with psychological theories of optimal experience to understand the individual motivational perspective on aging. At the same time, it does not disregard analyzing the daily and cultural contexts in which everyone situates and that guide aging trajectories. Nor does it forget that aging people are body-mind (embodied) organisms that, with contexts and through motivations, seize opportunities for action (affordances) to evolve in an optimal way during their lifespan. This theoretical reflection sheds new light on the aging process and on future trends in healthy longevity research.

Contextual Action Theory in Nursing Home Settings: A Conceptual Framework for Considering the Active Role of Residents

AbstractNursing home (NH) residents are often considered passive recipients of care with a limited role in shaping their experience. This perspective is often reproduced in NH research, which restricts resident participation, thereby upholding ageist views that cause discrimination of older adults living in NH settings. In this article, we propose using Contextual Action Theory (CAT) as a conceptual framework for exploring NH experiences in a way that incorporates the active role of residents. CAT supports the active role of NH residents by emphasizing the capabilities of human beings to form preferences and act on those preferences, without assumptions of rationality. The emphasis on human action allows researchers to consider NH experiences as co-constructed between residents, care providers, and family members, which means placing an emphasis on the actions and goals of NH residents, no matter their cognitive or physical impairments. CAT also supports personhood and social citizenship concerns in NH research, by acknowledging the differing preferences and thereby differing experiences of NH care by individual residents. We argue that CAT should be considered a useful framework for putting residents in the center of NH research.

WITHIN- AND BETWEEN-COUNTRY DIFFERENCES IN DAILY ASSOCIATION OF VIEWS OF AGING AND NEGATIVE AFFECT

Abstract Few studies found cultural differences, both across and within countries, in the association between subjective views of aging (VoA) and psychological concomitants. However, a question remains whether such cultural differences exist on a daily level. We therefore examined cultural differences in daily covariation of VoA and negative affect (NA) within an Israeli sample (comparing Israeli Jews to Arabs) and between countries (comparing the Israeli sample to an American sample). The Israeli sample included 75 participants (age ranged 50 to 88, 36% Arabs). The American sample included 77 participants (age ranged 50 to 82). Participants reported subjective age, subjective accelerated aging, ageist attitudes, and NA across 14 days. Within-person variability ranged from 28% (ageist attitudes) to 52% (NA) of the total variance in the Israeli sample, and 26% (subjective age) to 38% (subjective accelerated aging) in the American sample. On days respondents felt younger, felt to be aging slower, or had less ageist attitudes, they also reported lower NA. Cross-level interactions showed that the associations of subjective age and subjective accelerated aging with NA were significantly stronger among Israeli Arabs (versus Israeli Jews) and significantly stronger in the Israeli sample (versus the American sample). The daily covariance between ageist attitudes and NA remained similar across cultural groups. These findings attest to the importance of taking a cultural perspective on daily relationships between VoA and psychological concomitants. Our talk will discuss potential explanations for the abovementioned cultural differences and similarities and will point to future directions in our Subjective AGES project.

Perempuan Muda dan Partai Politik : Dari Descriptive Participation menuju Substantive Representation

The low level of political participation among women in general, including young women, in Indonesia can be explained through three reasons. Firstly, women face a challenging playing field because politics is predominantly characterized by a masculine culture. Secondly, in their pursuit of political engagement, women encounter several obstacles, such as patriarchal structures, sexist and ageist views, and social class barriers. Thirdly, young women are also hindered by political nepotism, lack of party support, limited political knowledge, and financial constraints. This paper utilizes the conceptual framework of Women and Political Party by Lovenduski (1997), Squires (2007), Ann Phillips’ theory of women’s representation, as well as the works of Young, Mouffe, Childs, and Krook to examine the dynamics of young women and political parties in Indonesia from the 2019 elections to the upcoming 2024 elections. The focus is on the interconnection between descriptive participation and substantive representation. The research methodology employed involves a critical analysis of existing literature supplemented by interviews conducted with young women actively involved in five political parties qualified as participants in the 2024 elections (Golkar, NasDem, PKB, Demokrat, and PSI), including both ordinary party members and those who were elected as members of the DPR (People’s Representative Council of Indonesia) in the 2019 elections.

Nursing Education as a Key Strategy to Combat Ageism: Preparing Nurses to Proactively Dismantle Their Own Ageist Views as Well as Ageist Practices Within Health Care Settings.

The prevalence of ageism in health care prevents nurses from providing the best care to older adults. Nursing education can prepare nurses to proactively dismantle their own ageist views as well as ageist practices within health care settings. Active learning strategies, such as role-play and case studies, can be used to teach nurses how to become anti-ageism advocates and improve the quality of health care for older adults.

Fostering Positive Views About Older Workers and Reducing Age Discrimination: A Retest of the Workplace Intergenerational Contact and Knowledge Sharing Model.

Ageism toward older workers is prevalent in the labor market. The present study aimed to understand psychosocial mechanisms that may counteract this form of discrimination and help retain workers in the labor force. Using a sample of 500 Canadian younger and older workers, this study tested a model hypothesizing that intergenerational contacts and knowledge sharing practices can reduce ageist views about older adults and age-based discrimination against one's own group, and in turn, enhance work engagement and intentions to remain in the workplace. The final model shows that knowledge sharing practices mediate the relationship between intergroup contacts and positive views about older workers as well as age-based discrimination. It also suggests that low levels of age-based discrimination increase work engagement and intentions to remain in the organization for workers of all ages. Practice and policy implications are discussed.

“COUNT YOUR AGE BY FRIENDS, NOT BY YEARS”: AN INTERPERSONAL PERSPECTIVE ON SUBJECTIVE VIEWS OF AGING

Abstract Humans are social beings, and as we age, meaningful and close relationships become increasingly important. However, the literature on older adults’ subjective views of aging (VoA) tends to focus on the link between such views and health outcomes, overlooking important interpersonal correlates. This symposium consists of four presentations that focus on various concepts, study designs, and populations, and offers novel insights regarding how VoA operate in the social domain. The first presentation (Bergman et al.) establishes, using a diary study, the mediating role of understanding others’ emotional states (i.e., Theory of Mind) in the connection between VoA and positive social relationships. The second presentation (Mejía & Hooker) examines, through daily assessment, how VoA differentiate the processes by which older adults construct interactions with their closest social partners to progress toward health goals in daily life. The third presentation (Neupert & Can) employs a diary study and demonstrates that daily fluctuations in both subjective age and ageist attitudes are important determinants for older adults’ well-being. The fourth presentation (Shrira), a clinical study, focuses on how orthopedic patients’ rehabilitation is affected by their own and their healthcare professionals’ VoA. Together, the findings highlight the relevance of VoA to interpersonal functioning and health, and offer valuable information for both researchers and clinicians regarding the importance of this direction in future explorations of older adults’ VoA and physical/psychological well-being.

SUBJECTIVE VIEWS OF AGING AND SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG OLDER ADULTS: THEORY OF MIND AS A MEDIATOR

Abstract Research has demonstrated the importance of subjective views of aging (VoA) for older adults’ well-being. However, little is known regarding how understanding others’ emotional states may affect this association. Accordingly, we examined whether Theory of Mind (ToM), or the ability to comprehend others’ emotions, may mediate the effect of VoA on older adults’ social functioning. Thirty community-dwelling older adults (mean age= 71.23, SD= 8.57, 50% women) filled out daily questionnaires concerning ageist attitudes, attitudes toward aging, and satisfaction with social relationships for two weeks. Positive VoA (i.e., low ageist attitudes and positive attitudes toward aging) were associated with increased ToM and higher satisfaction with social relationships. Moreover, ToM was a significant mediator for the VoA-social relationships link, as positive VoA on a given day were indicative of higher ToM levels, which were associated with increased positive social relationships. Results are discussed from the perspective of Socioemotional Selectivity Theory.

REHABILITATION OUTCOMES AS A FUNCTION OF PATIENTS' AND HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL'S VIEWS OF AGING

Abstract The effect of subjective views of aging (VoA) on health outcomes is well established, yet this effect was rarely examined among older adults undergoing hospitalization or rehabilitation. Moreover, the additive effect of healthcare personnel’s ageist attitudes on treatment outcomes is unknown. Accordingly, these effects were examined within older adults hospitalized for osteoporotic fractures – a frequent late-life condition with cardinal functional implications. Study 1 (N=147 patients, mean age=79.3) found that feeling younger at admission predicted better rehabilitation outcomes. The reverse effect of functional independence at admission on subjective age at discharge was non-significant. Study 2 (N=52 patients, mean age=81.8, and N=55 hospital staff members, mean age=32.3) replicated these findings with additional VoA indices, and further demonstrated that rehabilitation outcomes were better when occupational and physical therapists reported low levels of ageist attitudes. Findings suggest that successful rehabilitation may be promoted by reducing negative VoA among patients as well as healthcare personnel.

Compassionate presence sessions: A qualitative exploration of experiences of older adults and college students

BackgroundOffering compassionate presence has been associated with enhanced psychological and physiological well-being for both the giver and the recipient, especially in times of crisis, but there are limited studies examining the role of an intergenerational compassionate presence program on the well-being of older and younger adults. This phenomenological study aimed to explore the impact of compassionate presence sessions for older adults and college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsData were gathered from older adult participants through semi-structured interviews (n = 18) and student participants through weekly debriefing and structured guided reflection (n = 7). ResultsThe study identified the intergenerational compassionate presence program as a possible tool for use in strengthening intergenerational bonds, promoting mutual learning, boosting the emotional well-being of older and younger adults, reducing ageist views, enhancing social virtues, and improving college students’ attitudes toward aging and older adults. ConclusionFindings support the need to implement programs that provide a space for older adults to share their life stories and experiences without being judged. Such an opportunity can help them dig deeper into their inner resources to discover and find meaning in their life experiences.

We will all age and one day be older adults ourselves: college students’ reflections on facilitating compassionate presence (CP) sessions for older adults

ABSTRACT College students are likely to hold negative ageist views and attitudes toward older people. The compassionate presence (CP) intervention could be a promising approach to reduce ageist attitudes that younger adults have of older adults. College students were trained virtually in deep, active, and compassionate listening and were matched with older adults living in assisted-living facilities. The partners met virtually for an hour once per week. Students completed weekly reflections throughout the ten-week intervention. The weekly reflections revealed that students had preconceived notions about older adults before the CP training. After the CP training and throughout the intervention, we noted a positive shift in perception, knowledge, and attitudes toward older adults and aging. Students built meaningful social bonds with older adults, developed strong communication and interpersonal skills, and acquired research and core leadership skills needed for future careers and professional practice.

The Association Between Views of Aging and Subjective Cognitive Complaints in Older Adults: Findings From Two Samples.

This cross-sectional study examined whether views of aging (VoA) relate to subjective cognitive complaints in two separate cohorts of older adults. Ageist attitudes, attitudes to aging (psychological loss, physical change, and psychological growth), subjective age, and subjective successful aging were examined. A moderating effect of chronological age was also examined. Samples included 572 adults aged 50 or older (Sample 1; mean age = 67.63, SD = 11.39, 49.4% female) and 224 adults aged 65 or older (Sample 2; mean age = 81.50, SD = 6.61, 75.3% female). More negative VoA (higher ageist attitudes, lower psychological growth, lower physical change, older subjective age, and less successful aging) were associated with more subjective cognitive complaints after controlling for covariates. An increase in chronological age strengthened some of these associations. Findings suggest that improving dimensions of VoA may have a complementary positive effect on subjective cognitive complaints in older adults.

Effect of COVID-19 Isolation on Nursing Student and Older Adult Interview Assignment.

The US population is aging. Young people may have ageist views that may deter them from careers working with older adults. Intergenerational teaching strategies in college courses offer opportunities for young and older people to interact. In a nursing course, 7 semi-structured interviews, discussion board content, and a synthesis project provide the framework for a sharing relationship to develop. The COVID-19 required alterations in the interview format, and understanding these changes from the elders' viewpoints were added to the interviews. This data identified 4 themes with positive and negative reactions.

Examining Attitudes and Experiences of Ageism During COVID-19: Are They on the Rise?

Gerontologists have warned of rising ageism amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults have been portrayed as a homogenous group given their health vulnerabilities and have been viewed with mixed perceptions. For instance, the pandemic has been viewed as an “old person’s” disease and older adults have been inherently linked to imposing health and safety lifestyle changes. Others have responded with acts of overaccommodative care that have minimized older adults’ autonomy. Taken together, there have been inferences of increased hostile and benevolent ageism. Currently, these claims lack empirical data, and the goal of this study was to examine if attitudes and experiences of ageism are on the rise. Across two studies, we examined young adults’ (N=268) attitudes of older adults and older adults’ (N=65) experiences of ageism before and after the start of the pandemic. In study 1, we examined ageist attitudes at 3 time points (2017, 2019, 2020) from separate, but equitable, college samples and found that hostile ageism was higher during the pandemic (F(2,265)=5.48, p<.001) and benevolent ageism demonstrated no differences. In study 2, we explored older adults’ experiences of ageism pre-and post-pandemic onset (2019, 2020) and, found that they reported experiencing less hostile ageism (t(64)=2.45, p<.05), with no differences in experienced benevolent ageism. Our findings suggest an increase in hostile ageist views, but a decrease in experiences, partially supporting the alleged claims of rising ageism. Nevertheless, the last year of the pandemic is dynamically contextualized and research should elaborate on the extent and consequences of this rise.

Policy Series: Ageism: Outcomes, Interventions, Future Directions

Ageism is stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups based on their age. Ageism toward older adults is ubiquitous in American society and takes many forms including prejudicial practices and institutional policies that lead to unfair treatment of older adults. Ageism negatively impacts older adults in numerous domains such as health care and the workplace. Older adults themselves often internalize ageist views with detrimental effects on physical and mental health including increased risk for suicidal ideation and worse memory performance. This symposium addresses ageism from multiple perspectives and describes strategies for detecting and combatting ageism. The first speaker is Patricia D’Antonio, Vice President of Policy and Professional Affairs of The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). Ms. D’Antonio will describe GSA’s Reframing Aging Initiative which aims to improve the public’s understanding of the meaning of aging in order to counter ageism and support policies and programs that benefit older adults. The second speaker, Dr. Fredriksen Goldsen will use an Age Equity Framework to present her research on the relationship between ageism and mental and physical health and quality of life in LGBTQ older adults. The third speaker, Dr. Gendron will describe a content analysis of an anti-ageism resource that evaluates ageism interventions using an ecological framework. The fourth speaker, Dr. Hinrichsen will discuss ways psychotherapists can help older adults identify and move beyond internalized ageist beliefs. Finally, Dr. Levy, an internationally recognized expert in ageism will discuss themes across speakers and comment on the future of work in this area.