Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology

Aging and Gerontology Research

Works Count: 40798

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This cluster of papers explores the influence of aging on emotional experience, cognition, and well-being, with a focus on successful aging, ageism, wisdom, and memory. It delves into topics such as the positivity effect in attention and memory, emotional memory in older adults, age-related differences in affect, and the impact of stereotype embodiment. The papers also discuss the role of social relationships, motivation, and subjective well-being in the context of aging.

Keywords

Aging; Emotion; Successful Aging; Ageism; Wisdom; Memory; Subjective Well-being; Motivation; Social Relationships; Cognition

Successful aging: Perspectives from the behavioral sciences

1990-01-01

Paul B. Baltes , Margret M. Baltes

Foreword Preface 1. Psychological perspectives on successful aging: the model of selective optimization with compensation 2. Medical perspectives upon successful aging 3. Successful aging in a post-retired society 4. The … Foreword Preface 1. Psychological perspectives on successful aging: the model of selective optimization with compensation 2. Medical perspectives upon successful aging 3. Successful aging in a post-retired society 4. The optimization of cognitive functioning in old age: predictions based on cohort-sequential and longitudinal data 5. The optimization of episodic remembering in old age 6. Peak performance and age: an examination of peak performance in sports 7. Personal control over development and quality of life perspectives in adulthood 8. Successful mastery of bereavement and widowhood: a life-course perspective 9. The Bonn longitudinal study of aging: coping, life adjustment, and life satisfaction 10. Risk and protective factors in the transition to young adulthood 11. Avoiding negative life outcomes: evidence from a forty-five year study 12. Developing behavioural genetics and successful aging Name index Subject index.

The life cycle completed

1997-10-01

Erik H. Erikson , Joan M. Erikson

Originally published as a review of Erik Erikson's complete psychological theory, this book provides a context for Erikson's ideas - the identity crisis, the interdependence of history and life history, … Originally published as a review of Erik Erikson's complete psychological theory, this book provides a context for Erikson's ideas - the identity crisis, the interdependence of history and life history, the life cycle, and the theory that maturity is not the end of psychological growth. This text covers the ninth stage - that of extreme old age. As human longevity increases, that stage is becoming of increasing importance. Joan Erikson, Erikson's wife, now in her 90s, guides the reader through the challenges of old age, extending Erik Erikson's vision of human development in its major phases.

Handbook of the Psychology of Aging

2016-01-01

K. Warner Schaie , Sherry L. Willis , Bob G. Knight +2 more

Aging and emotional memory: The forgettable nature of negative images for older adults.

2003-05-28

Susan T. Charles , Mara Mather , Laura L. Carstensen

Two studies examined age differences in recall and recognition memory for positive, negative, and neutral stimuli. In Study 1, younger, middle-aged, and older adults were shown images on a computer … Two studies examined age differences in recall and recognition memory for positive, negative, and neutral stimuli. In Study 1, younger, middle-aged, and older adults were shown images on a computer screen and, after a distraction task, were asked first to recall as many as they could and then to identify previously shown images from a set of old and new ones. The relative number of negative images compared with positive and neutral images recalled decreased with each successively older age group. Recognition memory showed a similar decrease with age in the relative memory advantage for negative pictures. In Study 2, the largest age differences in recall and recognition accuracy were also for the negative images. Findings are consistent with socioemotional selectivity theory, which posits greater investment in emotion regulation with age.

Sensory functioning and intelligence in old age: A strong connection.

1994-01-01

Ulman Lindenberger , Paul B. Baltes

Relations among age, sensory functioning (i.e., visual and auditory acuity), and intelligence were examined in a heterogeneous, age-stratified sample of old and very old individuals (N = 156, M age … Relations among age, sensory functioning (i.e., visual and auditory acuity), and intelligence were examined in a heterogeneous, age-stratified sample of old and very old individuals (N = 156, M age = 84.9 years, age range = 70-103). Intelligence was assessed with 14 tests measuring 5 cognitive abilities (speed, reasoning, memory, knowledge, and fluency). Together, visual and auditory acuity accounted for 49.2% of the total and 93.1% of the age-related reliable variance in intelligence. The data were consistent with structural models in which age differences in intelligence, including speed, are completely mediated by differences in vision and hearing. Results suggest that sensory functioning is a strong late-life predictor of individual differences in intellectual functioning. Explanations are discussed, including the possibility that visual and sensory acuity are indicators of the physiological integrity of the aging brain (common cause hypothesis).

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THE ‘PSYCHOLOGICAL REFRACTORY PERIOD’ AND THE TIMING OF HIGH‐SPEED PERFORMANCE—A REVIEW AND A THEORY

1952-02-01

A. T. Welford

Emotion and aging: Experience, expression, and control.

1997-01-01

James J. Gross , Laura L. Carstensen , Monisha Pasupathi +3 more

Age differences in emotional experience, expression, and control were investigated in 4 studies. A community sample of 127 African Americans and European Americans (ages 19-96 years) was used in Study … Age differences in emotional experience, expression, and control were investigated in 4 studies. A community sample of 127 African Americans and European Americans (ages 19-96 years) was used in Study 1; a community sample of 82 Chinese Americans and European Americans (ages 20-85 years) was used in Study 2; a community sample of 49 Norwegians drawn from 2 age groups (ages 20-35 years and 70+ years) was used in Study 3; and a sample of 1,080 American nuns (ages 24-101 years) was used in Study 4. Across studies, a consistent pattern of age differences emerged. Compared with younger participants, older participants reported fewer negative emotional experiences and greater emotional control. Findings regarding emotional expressivity were less consistent, but when there were age differences, older participants reported lesser expressivity. Results are interpreted in terms of increasingly competent emotion regulation across the life span.

Age-Ism: Another Form of Bigotry

1969-12-01

Robert N. Butler

Journal Article Age-Ism: Another Form of Bigotry Get access Robert N. Butler, MD Robert N. Butler, MD 1Washington School of Psychiatry and George Washington University Medical School3815 Huntington St., NW, … Journal Article Age-Ism: Another Form of Bigotry Get access Robert N. Butler, MD Robert N. Butler, MD 1Washington School of Psychiatry and George Washington University Medical School3815 Huntington St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20015 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar The Gerontologist, Volume 9, Issue 4_Part_1, Winter 1969, Pages 243–246, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/9.4_Part_1.243 Published: 01 December 1969

Emotional experience in everyday life across the adult life span.

2000-01-01

Laura L. Carstensen , Monisha Pasupathi , Ulrich Mayr +1 more

Age differences in emotional experience over the adult life span were explored, focusing on the frequency, intensity, complexity, and consistency of emotional experience in everyday life. One hundred eighty-four people, … Age differences in emotional experience over the adult life span were explored, focusing on the frequency, intensity, complexity, and consistency of emotional experience in everyday life. One hundred eighty-four people, age 18 to 94 years, participated in an experience-sampling procedure in which emotions were recorded across a 1-week period. Age was unrelated to frequency of positive emotional experience. A curvilinear relationship best characterized negative emotional experience. Negative emotions declined in frequency until approximately age 60, at which point the decline ceased. Individual factor analyses computed for each participant revealed that age was associated with more differentiated emotional experience. In addition, periods of highly positive emotional experience were more likely to endure among older people and periods of highly negative emotional experience were less stable. Findings are interpreted within the theoretical framework of socioemotional selectivity theory.

Individual differences in rates of change in cognitive abilities of older persons.

2002-01-01

Robert S. Wilson , Laurel Beckett , Lisa L. Barnes +4 more

The authors examined change in cognitive abilities in older Catholic clergy members. For up to 6 years, participants underwent annual clinical evaluations, which included a battery of tests from which … The authors examined change in cognitive abilities in older Catholic clergy members. For up to 6 years, participants underwent annual clinical evaluations, which included a battery of tests from which summary measures of 7 abilities were derived. On average, decline occurred in each ability and was more rapid in older persons than in younger persons. However, wide individual differences were evident at all ages. Rate of change in a given domain was not strongly related to baseline level of function in that domain but was moderately associated with rates of change in other cognitive domains. The results suggest that change in cognitive function in old age primarily reflects person-specific factors rather than an inevitable developmental process.

Attitudes Toward Younger and Older Adults: An Updated Meta‐Analytic Review

2005-05-16

Mary E. Kite , Gary D. Stockdale , Bernard E. Whitley +1 more

This meta‐analytic review of 232 effect sizes showed that, across five categories, attitudes were more negative toward older than younger adults. Perceived age differences were largest for age stereotypes and … This meta‐analytic review of 232 effect sizes showed that, across five categories, attitudes were more negative toward older than younger adults. Perceived age differences were largest for age stereotypes and smallest for evaluations. As predicted by social role theory ( Eagly, 1987 ), effect sizes were reduced when detailed information was provided about the person being rated. The double standard of aging emerged for evaluations and behavior/behavioral intentions, but was reversed for the competence category. Perceptions depended on respondent age also. Results demonstrated both the multi‐dimensionality and the complexity of attitudes toward older adults ( Hummert, 1999 ; Kite & Wagner, 2002 ).

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Social relationships, social support, and patterns of cognitive aging in healthy, high-functioning older adults: MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging.

2001-01-01

Teresa E. Seeman , Tina M. Lusignolo , Marilyn Albert +1 more

This study examines the relationship of social ties and support to patterns of cognitive aging in the MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging (see L. F. Berkman et al., 1993), a … This study examines the relationship of social ties and support to patterns of cognitive aging in the MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging (see L. F. Berkman et al., 1993), a cohort study of 1,189 initially high-functioning older adults. Baseline and longitudinal data provide information on initial levels as well as changes in cognitive performance over a 7.5-year period. Linear regression analyses revealed that participants receiving more emotional support had better baseline performance, as did those who were unmarried and those reporting greater conflict with network members. Greater baseline emotional support was also a significant predictor of better cognitive function at the 7.5-year follow-up, controlling for baseline cognitive function and known sociodemographic, behavioral, psychological, and health status predictors of cognitive aging. The findings suggest the potential value of further research on the role of the social environment in protecting against cognitive declines at older ages.

New Frontiers in the Future of Aging: From Successful Aging of the Young Old to the Dilemmas of the Fourth Age

2003-01-01

Paul B. Baltes , Jacqui Smith

We review research findings on the oldest old that demonstrate that the fourth age entails a level of biocultural incompleteness, vulnerability and unpredictability that is distinct from the positive views … We review research findings on the oldest old that demonstrate that the fourth age entails a level of biocultural incompleteness, vulnerability and unpredictability that is distinct from the positive views of the third age (young old). The oldest old are at the limits of their functional capacity and science and social policy are constrained in terms of intervention. New theoretical and practical endeavors are required to deal with the challenges of increased numbers of the oldest old and the associated prevalence of frailty and forms of psychological mortality (e.g., loss of identity, psychological autonomy and a sense of control). Investigation of the fourth age is a new and challenging interdisciplinary research territory. Future study and discussion should focus on the critical question of whether the continuing major investments into extending the life span into the fourth age actually reduce the opportunities of an increasing number of people to live and die in dignity.

A Balance Theory of Wisdom

1998-12-01

Robert J. Sternberg

The author presents a balance theory of wisdom. First, some alternative approaches to wisdom are reviewed, including philosophical, implicit theoretical, and explicit theoretical ones. Second, the concept of tacit knowledge … The author presents a balance theory of wisdom. First, some alternative approaches to wisdom are reviewed, including philosophical, implicit theoretical, and explicit theoretical ones. Second, the concept of tacit knowledge and its role in wisdom are discussed. Third, a balance theory of wisdom is presented, according to which wisdom is defined as the application of tacit knowledge as mediated by values toward the achievement of a common good through a balance among multiple (a) intrapersonal, (b) interpersonal, and (c) extrapersonal interests in order to achieve a balance among (a) adaptation to existing environments, (b) shaping of existing environments, and (c) selection of new environments. This theory is compared to some other theories, and wisdom as a construct is compared to some other constructs. Measurement issues are also discussed. It is concluded that it might be worthwhile for American society to emphasize development of wisdom in schooling more than it has in the past.

Life-management strategies of selection, optimization and compensation: Measurement by self-report and construct validity.

2002-04-01

Alexandra M. Freund , Paul B. Baltes

The authors examined the usefulness of a self-report measure for elective selection, loss-based selection. optimization, and compensation (SOC) as strategies of life management. The expected 4-factor solution was obtained in … The authors examined the usefulness of a self-report measure for elective selection, loss-based selection. optimization, and compensation (SOC) as strategies of life management. The expected 4-factor solution was obtained in 2 independent samples (N = 218, 14-87 years; N = 181, 18-89 years) exhibiting high retest stability across 4 weeks (r(tt) = .74-82). As expected, middle-aged adults showed higher endorsement of SOC than younger and older adults. Moreover, SOC showed meaningful convergent and divergent associations to other psychological constructs (e.g., thinking styles, NEO) and evinced positive correlations with measures of well-being which were maintained after other personality and motivational constructs were controlled for. Initial evidence on behavioral associations involving SOC obtained in other studies is summarized.

Aging and Attentional Biases for Emotional Faces

2003-08-20

Mara Mather , Laura L. Carstensen

We examined age differences in attention to and memory for faces expressing sadness, anger, and happiness. Participants saw a pair of faces, one emotional and one neutral, and then a … We examined age differences in attention to and memory for faces expressing sadness, anger, and happiness. Participants saw a pair of faces, one emotional and one neutral, and then a dot probe that appeared in the location of one of the faces. In two experiments, older adults responded faster to the dot if it was presented on the same side as a neutral face than if it was presented on the same side as a negative face. Younger adults did not exhibit this attentional bias. Interactions of age and valence were also found for memory for the faces, with older adults remembering positive better than negative faces. These findings reveal that in their initial attention, older adults avoid negative information. This attentional bias is consistent with older adults' generally better emotional well-being and their tendency to remember negative less well than positive information.

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Taking time seriously: A theory of socioemotional selectivity.

1999-01-01

Laura L. Carstensen , Derek M. Isaacowitz , Susan T. Charles

Socioemotional selectivity theory claims that the perception of time plays a fundamental role in the selection and pursuit of social goals. According to the theory, social motives fall into 1 … Socioemotional selectivity theory claims that the perception of time plays a fundamental role in the selection and pursuit of social goals. According to the theory, social motives fall into 1 of 2 general categories--those related to the acquisition of knowledge and those related to the regulation of emotion. When time is perceived as open-ended, knowledge-related goals are prioritized. In contrast, when time is perceived as limited, emotional goals assume primacy. The inextricable association between time left in life and chronological age ensures age-related differences in social goals. Nonetheless, the authors show that the perception of time is malleable, and social goals change in both younger and older people when time constraints are imposed. The authors argue that time perception is integral to human motivation and suggest potential implications for multiple subdisciplines and research interests in social, developmental, cultural, cognitive, and clinical psychology.

Definitions and Predictors of Successful Aging: A Comprehensive Review of Larger Quantitative Studies

2006-01-01

Colin A. Depp , Dilip V. Jeste

Ageism: Negative and Positive

2000-01-01

Robert L Kane , Erdman Palmore

The Relation Between Everyday Activities and Successful Aging: A 6-Year Longitudinal Study

2003-03-01

Verena Menec

Activity has long been thought to be related to successful aging. This study was designed to examine longitudinally the relation between everyday activities and indicators of successful aging, namely well-being, … Activity has long been thought to be related to successful aging. This study was designed to examine longitudinally the relation between everyday activities and indicators of successful aging, namely well-being, function, and mortality.The study was based on the Aging in Manitoba Study, with activity being measured in 1990 and function, well-being, and mortality assessed in 1996. Well-being was measured in terms of life satisfaction and happiness; function was defined in terms of a composite measure combining physical and cognitive function.Regression analyses indicated that greater overall activity level was related to greater happiness, better function, and reduced mortality. Different activities were related to different outcome measures; but generally, social and productive activities were positively related to happiness, function, and mortality, whereas more solitary activities (e.g., hand-work hobbies) were related only to happiness.These findings highlight the importance of activity in successful aging. The results also suggest that different types of activities may have different benefits. Whereas social and productive activities may afford physical benefits, as reflected in better function and greater longevity, more solitary activities, such as reading, may have more psychological benefits by providing a sense of engagement with life.

Beyond Ponce de Leon and Life Satisfaction: New Directions in Quest of Successful Ageing

1989-03-01

Carol D. Ryff

Previous approaches to the study of successful ageing are reviewed. It is argued that there has been an absence of theory guiding this research; an implicit negativism in the proposed … Previous approaches to the study of successful ageing are reviewed. It is argued that there has been an absence of theory guiding this research; an implicit negativism in the proposed conceptions of well-being; a neglect of the possibility for continued growth and development in old age; and a failure to see conceptions of positive ageing as human constructions that are open to cultural variations and historical change. An alternative approach that draws on the convergence in life-span developmental theories, clinical theories of personal growth, and mental health perspectives is presented. Six criteria of well-being result from this integration: self-acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth. These dimensions are defined and their relevance for the study of adulthood and ageing is discussed. New avenues for investigating successful ageing as a human construction are presented with emphasis given to the complementarity between quantitative and qualitative research strategies.

Emotional experience improves with age: Evidence based on over 10 years of experience sampling.

2010-10-25

Laura L. Carstensen , Bülent Turan , Susanne Scheibe +5 more

Recent evidence suggests that emotional well-being improves from early adulthood to old age. This study used experience-sampling to examine the developmental course of emotional experience in a representative sample of … Recent evidence suggests that emotional well-being improves from early adulthood to old age. This study used experience-sampling to examine the developmental course of emotional experience in a representative sample of adults spanning early to very late adulthood. Participants (N = 184, Wave 1; N = 191, Wave 2; N = 178, Wave 3) reported their emotional states at five randomly selected times each day for a one week period. Using a measurement burst design, the one-week sampling procedure was repeated five and then ten years later. Cross-sectional and growth curve analyses indicate that aging is associated with more positive overall emotional well-being, with greater emotional stability and with more complexity (as evidenced by greater co-occurrence of positive and negative emotions). These findings remained robust after accounting for other variables that may be related to emotional experience (personality, verbal fluency, physical health, and demographic variables). Finally, emotional experience predicted mortality; controlling for age, sex, and ethnicity, individuals who experienced relatively more positive than negative emotions in everyday life were more likely to have survived over a 13 year period. Findings are discussed in the theoretical context of socioemotional selectivity theory.

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A Continuity Theory of Normal Aging

1989-04-01

Robert C. Atchley

Continuity Theory holds that, in making adaptive choices, middle-aged and older adults attempt to preserve and maintain existing internal and external structures; and they prefer to accomplish this objective by … Continuity Theory holds that, in making adaptive choices, middle-aged and older adults attempt to preserve and maintain existing internal and external structures; and they prefer to accomplish this objective by using strategies tied to their past experiences of themselves and their social world. Change is linked to the person's perceived past, producing continuity in inner psychological characteristics as well as in social behavior and in social circumstances. Continuity is thus a grand adaptive strategy that is promoted by both individual preference and social approval.

The Measurement of Life Satisfaction

1961-04-01

Bernice L. Neugarten , R. J. Havighurst , Sheldon S. Tobin

Journal Article The Measurement of Life Satisfaction Get access Bernice L. Neugarten, Ph.D., Bernice L. Neugarten, Ph.D. Committee on Human Development; University of Chicago Search for other works by this … Journal Article The Measurement of Life Satisfaction Get access Bernice L. Neugarten, Ph.D., Bernice L. Neugarten, Ph.D. Committee on Human Development; University of Chicago Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Robert J. Havighurst, Ph.D., Robert J. Havighurst, Ph.D. Committee on Human Development; University of Chicago Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Sheldon S. Tobin, M.A. Sheldon S. Tobin, M.A. Committee on Human Development; University of Chicago Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Gerontology, Volume 16, Issue 2, April 1961, Pages 134–143, https://doi.org/10.1093/geronj/16.2.134 Published: 01 April 1961

Use it or lose it: Engaged lifestyle as a buffer of cognitive decline in aging?

1999-01-01

David F. Hultsch , Christopher Hertzog , Brent J. Small +1 more

Data from the Victoria Longitudinal Study were used to examine the hypothesis that maintaining intellectual engagement through participation in everyday activities buffers individuals against cognitive decline in later life. The … Data from the Victoria Longitudinal Study were used to examine the hypothesis that maintaining intellectual engagement through participation in everyday activities buffers individuals against cognitive decline in later life. The sample consisted of 250 middle-aged and older adults tested 3 times over 6 years. Structural equation modeling techniques were used to examine the relationships among changes in lifestyle variables and an array of cognitive variables. There was a relationship between changes in intellectually related activities and changes in cognitive functioning. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that intellectually engaging activities serve to buffer individuals against decline. However, an alternative model suggested the findings were also consistent with the hypothesis that high-ability individuals lead intellectually active lives until cognitive decline in old age limits their activities.

Social and Emotional Aging

2009-12-04

Susan T. Charles , Laura L. Carstensen

The past several decades have witnessed unidimensional decline models of aging give way to life-span developmental models that consider how specific processes and strategies facilitate adaptive aging. In part, this … The past several decades have witnessed unidimensional decline models of aging give way to life-span developmental models that consider how specific processes and strategies facilitate adaptive aging. In part, this shift was provoked by the stark contrast between findings that clearly demonstrate decreased biological, physiological, and cognitive capacity and those suggesting that people are generally satisfied in old age and experience relatively high levels of emotional well-being. In recent years, this supposed “paradox” of aging has been reconciled through careful theoretical analysis and empirical investigation. Viewing aging as adaptation sheds light on resilience, well-being, and emotional distress across adulthood.

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Aging and motivated cognition: the positivity effect in attention and memory

2005-09-09

Mara Mather , Laura L. Carstensen

The Life Review: An Interpretation of Reminiscence in the Aged

1963-02-01

Robert N. Butler

The universal occurrence of an inner experience or mental process of reviewing one’s life in older people is postulated. It is proposed that this process helps account for the increased … The universal occurrence of an inner experience or mental process of reviewing one’s life in older people is postulated. It is proposed that this process helps account for the increased reminiscence of the aged, that it contributes to the occurrence of certain late-life disorders, particularly depression, and that it participates in the evolution of such characteristics as candor, serenity and wisdom among certain of the aged.

Assessment of Older People: Self-Maintaining and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

1969-09-01

M. P. Lawton , Elaine Brody

Journal Article Assessment of Older People: Self-Maintaining and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Get access M. Powell Lawton, PhD, M. Powell Lawton, PhD 2Research Psychologist Philadelphia Geriatric Center 5301 Old … Journal Article Assessment of Older People: Self-Maintaining and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Get access M. Powell Lawton, PhD, M. Powell Lawton, PhD 2Research Psychologist Philadelphia Geriatric Center 5301 Old York RoadPhiladelphia 19141 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Elaine M. Brody, ACSW Elaine M. Brody, ACSW Director 3Department of Social WorkPhiladelphia Geriatric Center Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar The Gerontologist, Volume 9, Issue 3_Part_1, Autumn 1969, Pages 179–186, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/9.3_Part_1.179 Published: 01 October 1969

The effects of choice and enhanced personal responsibility for the aged: A field experiment in an institutional setting.

1976-01-01

Ellen J. Langer , Judith Rodin

A field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of enhanced personal responsibility and choice on a group of nursing home residents. It was expected that the debilitated condition of … A field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of enhanced personal responsibility and choice on a group of nursing home residents. It was expected that the debilitated condition of many of the aged residing in institutional settings is, at least in part, a result of living in a virtually decision-free environment and consequently is potentially reversible. Residents who were in the experimental group were given a communication emphasizing their responsibility for themselves, whereas the communication given to a second group stressed the staff's responsibility for them. In addition, to bolster the communication, the former group was given the freedom to make choices and the responsibility of caring for a plant rather than having decisions made and the plant taken care of for them by the staff, as was the case for the latter group. Questionnaire ratings and behavioral measures showed a significant improvement for the experimental group over the comparison group on alertness, active participation, and a general sense of well-being.

Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging.

2002-01-01

Becca R. Levy , Martin D. Slade , Suzanne Kunkel +1 more

This research found that older individuals with more positive self-perceptions of aging, measured up to 23 years earlier, lived 7.5 years longer than those with less positive self-perceptions of aging. … This research found that older individuals with more positive self-perceptions of aging, measured up to 23 years earlier, lived 7.5 years longer than those with less positive self-perceptions of aging. This advantage remained after age, gender, socioeconomic status, loneliness, and functional health were included as covariates. It was also found that this effect is partially mediated by will to live. The sample consisted of 660 individuals aged 50 and older who participated in a community-based survey, the Ohio Longitudinal Study of Aging and Retirement (OLSAR). By matching the OLSAR to mortality data recently obtained from the National Death Index, the authors were able to conduct survival analyses. The findings suggest that the self-perceptions of stigmatized groups can influence longevity.

The Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale: A Revision

1975-01-01

M. P. Lawton

The 22-item Philadelphia Geriatric center (PGC) Morale Scale was subjected to a series of principal component analyses utilizing different item pools and rotating differing numbers of factors. Subjects were 1086 … The 22-item Philadelphia Geriatric center (PGC) Morale Scale was subjected to a series of principal component analyses utilizing different item pools and rotating differing numbers of factors. Subjects were 1086 tenants of federally-assisted housing for the elderly and older people living in the community. Results were compared with analyses of the PGC scale done by Morris and sherwood. Consideration of factors defined by the analyses suggested three consistently reproduced factors: Agitation, Attitude Toward Own Aging, and Lonely Dissatisfaction, utilizing 17 of the original items. These results were compared with other multi-dimensional measures of morale: the Bradburn Affect Balance Scale, and morale scales reported by Pierce & Clark, & Schooler. In addition to the dimensions derived from the current study related domains of self-rated health, social accessibility, generalized attitude toward aging, and positive affect were suggested as worthy of further exploration as dimensions of morale.

Mind Matters: Cognitive and Physical Effects of Aging Self-Stereotypes

2003-07-01

Becca R. Levy

In the first part of this article, a wide range of research is drawn upon to describe the process by which aging stereotypes are internalized in younger individuals and then … In the first part of this article, a wide range of research is drawn upon to describe the process by which aging stereotypes are internalized in younger individuals and then become self-stereotypes when individuals reach old age. The second part consists of a review of the author's cross-cultural, experimental, and longitudinal research that examines the cognitive and physical effects of aging self-stereotypes. The final section presents suggestions for future research relating to aging self-stereotypes.

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The Process of Successful Ageing

1996-07-01

Margret M. Baltes , Laura L. Carstensen

Abstract As increasingly more people experience old age as a time of growth and productivity, theoretical attention to successful ageing is needed. In this paper, we overview historical, societal and … Abstract As increasingly more people experience old age as a time of growth and productivity, theoretical attention to successful ageing is needed. In this paper, we overview historical, societal and philosophical evidence for a deep, long-standing ambivalence about human ageing that has influenced even scientific views of old age. In recent years, however, discussion of the psychological and behavioural processes people use to maintain and reach new goals in late life has gained momentum. We contribute to this discussion the metamodel of selective optimisation with compensation, developed by Baltes and Baltes. The model is a metamodel that attempts to represent scientific knowledge about the nature of development and ageing with the focus on successful adaptation. The model takes gains and losses jointly into account, pays attention to the great heterogeneity in ageing and successful ageing, and views successful mastery of goals in the face of losses endemic to advanced age as the result of the interplay of the three processes, selection, compensation, and optimisation. We review evidence from the biological and social science literatures for each component and discuss new research avenues to study the interaction of the three processes.

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Wisdom: A metaheuristic (pragmatic) to orchestrate mind and virtue toward excellence.

2000-01-01

Paul B. Baltes , Ursula M. Staudinger

The primary focus of this article is on the presentation of wisdom research conducted under the heading of the Berlin wisdom paradigm. Informed by a cultural-historical analysis, wisdom in this … The primary focus of this article is on the presentation of wisdom research conducted under the heading of the Berlin wisdom paradigm. Informed by a cultural-historical analysis, wisdom in this paradigm is defined as an expert knowledge system concerning the fundamental pragmatics of life. These include knowledge and judgment about the meaning and conduct of life and the orchestration of human development toward excellence while attending conjointly to personal and collective well-being. Measurement includes think-aloud protocols concerning various problems of life associated with life planning, life management, and life review. Responses are evaluated with reference to a family of 5 criteria: rich factual and procedural knowledge, lifespan contextualism, relativism of values and life priorities, and recognition and management of uncertainty. A series of studies is reported that aim to describe, explain, and optimize wisdom. The authors conclude with a new theoretical perspective that characterizes wisdom as a cognitive and motivational metaheuristic (pragmatic) that organizes and orchestrates knowledge toward human excellence in mind and virtue, both individually and collectively.

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Human Aging: Usual and Successful

1987-07-10

John W. Rowe , Robert L. Kahn

Research in aging has emphasized average age-related losses and neglected the substantial heterogeneity of older persons. The effects of the aging process itself have been exaggerated, and the modifying effects … Research in aging has emphasized average age-related losses and neglected the substantial heterogeneity of older persons. The effects of the aging process itself have been exaggerated, and the modifying effects of diet, exercise, personal habits, and psychosocial factors underestimated. Within the category of normal aging, a distinction can be made between usual aging, in which extrinsic factors heighten the effects of aging alone, and successful aging, in which extrinsic factors play a neutral or positive role. Research on the risks associated with usual aging and strategies to modify them should help elucidate how a transition from usual to successful aging can be facilitated.

Evidence for a Life-Span Theory of Socioemotional Selectivity

1995-10-01

Laura L. Carstensen

3. R. Fendrich, CM. Wessinger, and M.S. GazI zaniga, Residual vision in a scotoma: Implications for blindsight, Science, 258, 1489-1491 (1992). 4. J.L. Barbur, J.D.G. Watson, R.S.j. Frackow iak, and … 3. R. Fendrich, CM. Wessinger, and M.S. GazI zaniga, Residual vision in a scotoma: Implications for blindsight, Science, 258, 1489-1491 (1992). 4. J.L. Barbur, J.D.G. Watson, R.S.j. Frackow iak, and S. Zeki, Conscious visual perception with out V1, Brain, 116, 1293 (1993). 5. A. Cowey and P. Stoerig, The neurobiology of blindsight, Trends in Neurosciences, 14, 140 (1991). 6. H.T. Rodman, CG. Gross, and T.D. Al bright, Afferent basis of visual response properties in area MT of the macaque: I. Effects of striate cortex removal, Journal of Neuroscience, 9, 2033 (1989). 7. A. Cowey, P. Stoerig, and V.H. Perry, Trans neuronal retrograde degeneration of retinal ganglion cells after damage to striate cortex in macaque mon keys: Selective loss of P-beta cells, Neuroscience, 29,65 (1989). 8. D.C Dennett, Consciousness Explained (Pen guin Press, London, 1991). 9. L. Weiskrantz, j.L. Barbur, and A. Sahraie, Parameters affecting conscious versus unconscious visual discrimination with damage to the visual corI tex (V1), Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, U.S.A., 92, 6122-6126 (1995).

Stereotype Embodiment

2009-12-01

Becca R. Levy

Researchers have increasingly turned their attention from younger individuals who hold age stereotypes to older individuals who are targeted by these stereotypes. The refocused research has shown that positive and … Researchers have increasingly turned their attention from younger individuals who hold age stereotypes to older individuals who are targeted by these stereotypes. The refocused research has shown that positive and negative age stereotypes held by older individuals can have beneficial and detrimental effects, respectively, on a variety of cognitive and physical outcomes. Drawing on these experimental and longitudinal studies, a theory of stereotype embodiment is presented here. It proposes that stereotypes are embodied when their assimilation from the surrounding culture leads to self-definitions that, in turn, influence functioning and health. The theory has four components: The stereotypes (a) become internalized across the life span, (b) can operate unconsciously, (c) gain salience from self-relevance, and (d) utilize multiple pathways. The central message of the theory, and the research supporting it, is that the aging process is, in part, a social construct.

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Fear of Falling and Fall-Related Efficacy in Relationship to Functioning Among Community-Living Elders

1994-05-01

Mary E. Tinetti , Carlos F. Mendes de Leon , John T. Doucette +1 more

Journal Article Fear of Falling and Fall-Related Efficacy in Relationship to Functioning Among Community-Living Elders Get access Mary E. Tinetti, Mary E. Tinetti 1Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School … Journal Article Fear of Falling and Fall-Related Efficacy in Relationship to Functioning Among Community-Living Elders Get access Mary E. Tinetti, Mary E. Tinetti 1Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Carlos F. Mendes De Leon, Carlos F. Mendes De Leon 2Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar John T. Doucette, John T. Doucette 2Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Dorothy I. Baker Dorothy I. Baker 3Yale University School of Nursing Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Gerontology, Volume 49, Issue 3, May 1994, Pages M140–M147, https://doi.org/10.1093/geronj/49.3.M140 Published: 01 May 1994 Article history Received: 17 February 1993 Accepted: 27 July 1993 Published: 01 May 1994

At the Intersection of Emotion and Cognition

2005-06-01

Laura L. Carstensen , Joseph A. Mikels

Divergent trajectories characterize the aging mind: Processing capacity declines, while judgment, knowledge, and emotion regulation are relatively spared. We maintain that these different developmental trajectories have implications for emotion–cognition interactions. … Divergent trajectories characterize the aging mind: Processing capacity declines, while judgment, knowledge, and emotion regulation are relatively spared. We maintain that these different developmental trajectories have implications for emotion–cognition interactions. Following an overview of our theoretical position, we review empirical studies indicating that (a) older adults evidence superior cognitive performance for emotional relative to non-emotional information, (b) age differences are most evident when the emotional content is positively as opposed to negatively valenced, and (c) differences can be accounted for by changes in motivation posited in socioemotional selectivity theory.

Time, Human Agency, and Social Change: Perspectives on the Life Course

1994-03-01

Glen H. Elder

The life course has emerged over the past 30 years as a major research paradigm. Distinctive themes include the relation between human lives and a changing society, the timing of … The life course has emerged over the past 30 years as a major research paradigm. Distinctive themes include the relation between human lives and a changing society, the timing of lives, linked or interdependent lives, and human agency. Two lines of research converged in the formation of this paradigm during the 1960s; one was associated with an older «social relationship» tradition that featured intergenerational studies, and the other with more contemporary thinking about age. The emergence of a life course paradigm has been coupled with a notable decline in socialization as a research framework and with its incorporation by other theories

Depression in Older Adults

2009-03-30

Amy Fiske , Julie Loebach Wetherell , Margaret Gatz

Depression is less prevalent among older adults than among younger adults, but it can have serious consequences. More than half of cases represent a first onset in later life. Although … Depression is less prevalent among older adults than among younger adults, but it can have serious consequences. More than half of cases represent a first onset in later life. Although suicide rates in the elderly are declining, they are still higher than in younger adults and are more closely associated with depression. Depressed older adults are less likely to endorse affective symptoms and more likely to display cognitive changes, somatic symptoms, and loss of interest than are depressed younger adults. Risk factors leading to the development of late-life depression likely comprise complex interactions among genetic vulnerabilities, cognitive diathesis, age-associated neurobiological changes, and stressful events. Insomnia is an often overlooked risk factor for late-life depression. We suggest that a common pathway to depression in older adults, regardless of which predisposing risks are most prominent, may be curtailment of daily activities. Accompanying self-critical thinking may exacerbate and maintain a depressed state. Offsetting the increasing prevalence of certain risk factors in late life are age-related increases in psychological resilience. Other protective factors include higher education and socioeconomic status, engagement in valued activities, and religious or spiritual involvement. Treatments including behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, cognitive bibliotherapy, problem-solving therapy, brief psychodynamic therapy, and life review/reminiscence therapy are effective but are too infrequently used with older adults. Preventive interventions including education for individuals with chronic illness, behavioral activation, cognitive restructuring, problem-solving skills training, group support, and life review have also received support.

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Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging.

2002-01-01

Becca R. Levy , Martin D. Slade , Suzanne Kunkel +1 more

Wisdom: A metaheuristic (pragmatic) to orchestrate mind and virtue toward excellence.

2000-01-01

Paul B. Baltes , Ursula M. Staudinger

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The effects of choice and enhanced personal responsibility for the aged: A field experiment in an institutional setting.

1976-08-01

Ellen J. Langer , Judith Rodin

Emotion and aging: Experience, expression, and control.

1997-01-01

James J. Gross , Laura L. Carstensen , Monisha Pasupathi +3 more

Successful Aging

1990-11-30

Book summary page views Book summary page views help Close Book summary page views help Book summary views reflect the number of visits to the book and chapter landing pages. … Book summary page views Book summary page views help Close Book summary page views help Book summary views reflect the number of visits to the book and chapter landing pages. Total views: 0 * Loading metrics...

Yaşlı Bakım Öğrencilerinin Yaşlılığa Dair Tutumları ve Belirleyici Faktörler: Korkut Ata Üniversitesi Örneği

2025-06-25

Can Çeliktaş | Ankara sağlık bilimleri dergisi

Amaç: Yaşlılık süreci ile alakalı en önemli ihtiyaçlardan biri bakım ihtiyacıdır. Özellikle üniversitelerin yaşlı bakım programları giderek artmakta ve bakım teknikerleri yetiştirilmektedir. Fakat her meslek grubunda olduğu gibi bu meslekte … Amaç: Yaşlılık süreci ile alakalı en önemli ihtiyaçlardan biri bakım ihtiyacıdır. Özellikle üniversitelerin yaşlı bakım programları giderek artmakta ve bakım teknikerleri yetiştirilmektedir. Fakat her meslek grubunda olduğu gibi bu meslekte de yapılan işe ve hedef gruba dair tutum oldukça önemlidir. Çünkü tutumlar, davranış ve düşüncelerin bir bütünüdür. Bu araştırmanın amacı, yaşlı bakım programında öğrenim görmekte olan öğrencilerin yaşlılara yönelik tutumlarını ölçmek, ilgili değişkenleri belirlemek ve ileriye yönelik çeşitli öneriler getirmektir. Örneklem ve Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı-kesitsel nitelikte gerçekleştirilen bu çalışma, Osmaniye Korkut Ata Üniversitesi’nin Sağlık Bakım Hizmetleri Bölümü Yaşlı Bakım Programında yer alan 90 öğrenciyle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Evrenin tamamına ulaşıldığı için örneklem seçimine gidilmemiştir. Veriler, “Kogan Yaşlılara Yönelik Tutum Ölçeği” ve araştırmacı tarafından hazırlanan “Kişisel Öğrenci Tanımlama Formu” ile elde edilmiştir. Bulgular: Araştırmada, öğrencilerin ölçek toplam puan ortalamasının 96.10±12.27 şeklinde olumlu olduğu belirlendi. Öğrencilerin sınıf düzeyi ile tutum ölçeği arasında anlamlı ilişki olduğu görüldü. Bir yaşlı ile birlikte yaşama durumu, ailede/yakın çevrede yaşlı birey olup olmama durumu, yaşlı bir bireyle görüşme sıklığı ve herhangi bir yaşlıya bakım verme durumu ile yaşlılara yönelik tutum arasında anlamlılık bulundu. Sonuç: Sonuç olarak sağlık alanında eğitim gören öğrencilerin yaşlılara dair olumlu tutumun temelinde, eğitim sürecinde edinilen psiko-sosyal bilgilerin ve tecrübelerin etkili olduğu ileri sürülebilir. Olumlu tutumun yaşlı bakımında kaliteyi artırması büyük ihtimaldir.

Societal gender norms and their influence on Late Life Cognition

2025-06-25

Shana D. Stites , Carolyn Kuz , Kimberly Halberstadter +3 more | Neurodegenerative Diseases

Introduction: This study assesses the influence of normative gender effects on cognitive outcomes of cognitively unimpaired older adults. The results help to understand how sex/gender identity operates as a structural … Introduction: This study assesses the influence of normative gender effects on cognitive outcomes of cognitively unimpaired older adults. The results help to understand how sex/gender identity operates as a structural determinant of AD outcomes and informs future research that is more inclusive of gender diverse identities. Methods: We analyze data from 216 adults aged 65 and older who completed survey questions from the Aging Gender Index (AGI), which pertain to often gendered experiences of American men and women, which relate to education, employment experiences, and relationship characteristics. The participants also completed cognitive testing. We conducted bivariate and multivariable analyses, which statistically adjusted for age, education, and race. Results: In multivariable analyses, being full-time employed or partially retired rather than full-time retired or part-time employed is associated with lower memory and learning scores (β=-0.29 95%CI -0.56 to -0.01). Fewer years out of the work force to raise children was associated with higher language scores (β=0.14, 95%CI 0.03 to 0.25). While not being a veteran versus being a veteran was associated with lower language scores (β=-0.27, 95%CI -0.51 to -0.02). Conclusions: The results of this study show how workforce and other economic experiences, which tend to vary by gender, may associate with some cognitive outcomes. Research is warranted to replicate the findings and build upon this method of inquiry.

AI Companions Reduce Loneliness

2025-06-25

Julian De Freitas , Zeliha Oğuz‐Uğuralp , Ahmet Kaan Uğuralp +1 more | Journal of Consumer Research

Abstract Chatbots are now able to engage in sophisticated conversations with consumers in the domain of relationships, providing a potential coping solution to widescale societal loneliness. Behavioral research provides little … Abstract Chatbots are now able to engage in sophisticated conversations with consumers in the domain of relationships, providing a potential coping solution to widescale societal loneliness. Behavioral research provides little insight into whether these applications are effective at alleviating loneliness. We address this question by focusing on “AI companions”: applications designed to provide consumers with synthetic interaction partners. Study 1 examines user reviews of AI companion apps and finds correlational evidence suggesting that these apps help alleviate loneliness. Study 2 finds that AI companions successfully alleviate loneliness on par only with interacting with another person, and more than other activities such as watching YouTube videos. Moreover, consumers underestimate the degree to which AI companions improve their loneliness. Study 3 uses a longitudinal design and finds that an AI companion consistently provides momentary reductions in loneliness after use over the course of a week. Study 4 provides evidence that both the chatbots’ performance and, especially, whether it makes users feel heard, explain reductions in loneliness. Study 5 provides an additional robustness check for the loneliness-alleviating benefits of AI companions and shows that self-disclosure and distraction alone do not explain AI companions’ effectiveness.

Intergenerational engagement among older people in the long-term care facility

2025-06-24

Hao Liu | http://isrctn.com/

The genius of their age

2025-06-24

B. Ishak | Contemporary Physics

Changes in narratives about aging among older adults in an internalized ageism intervention

2025-06-24

Dallas J. Murphy , Jesse T. Jacob , Corey S. Mackenzie +1 more | Aging & Mental Health

Exposure to ageism over a lifetime may be internalized in older adults and cause negative health outcomes. However, little research has sought to understand how to reduce internalized ageism. This … Exposure to ageism over a lifetime may be internalized in older adults and cause negative health outcomes. However, little research has sought to understand how to reduce internalized ageism. This study explored aging narratives among older adults prior to and following their engagement in a six-week 'Reimagine Aging' intervention. This intervention employed education and acceptance-and-commitment therapy (ACT) to reduce internalized ageism. We utilized content analysis to understand shifts in the aging narratives of 75 older adults pre- and post-intervention. We employed inductive content analysis to identify categories at Time 1 and Time 2 and directed content analysis to evaluate within-participant changes in aging narratives. The ways in which participants wrote about their aging selves appeared to be less influenced by internalized ageism post-intervention. Time 1 narratives focused on worries about the future and on-going challenges related to health, loss, and decline. Time 2 narratives shifted towards an emphasis on engagement in meaningful activities and adaptive coping. Our previous research demonstrated that the Reimagine Aging intervention reduced internalized ageism. The current study adds to these findings, demonstrating qualitative shifts in how participants described their aging selves, replacing categories that focus on ageism and loss with positive and values-focused categories.

How social and temporal comparisons shape subjective aging.

2025-06-23

David Weiss , Maria Clara Pinheiro de Paula Couto , Klaus Rothermund | Psychology and Aging

How we perceive and evaluate our own aging is shaped by both social and temporal comparisons. Social comparison involves evaluating oneself in relation to others, whereas temporal comparison focuses on … How we perceive and evaluate our own aging is shaped by both social and temporal comparisons. Social comparison involves evaluating oneself in relation to others, whereas temporal comparison focuses on assessing changes within oneself over time. Comparative information can produce opposing effects, causing individuals to feel either relatively younger or older than their chronological age: While temporal comparisons are often perceived as threatening in the second half of life, social comparisons are frequently employed to bolster self-perceptions. We investigated how social and temporal comparisons shape subjective aging in two studies, a longitudinal (Study 1, N = 2,425, 39-93 years; 55.5% women) and an experimental study (Study 2, N = 160, 50-75 years, 58% women). The results of both studies demonstrate that "me vs. them" comparisons result in feeling relatively younger, whereas "me vs. past/future me" comparisons lead to feeling relatively older. Study 2 also reveals evidence for the mediating role of self-perceptions of aging in this relationship. We discuss how social and temporal comparisons influence subjective age in opposite ways, offering important insights into the cognitive and motivational processes underlying subjective aging. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Chronic Strain, Coping Style, and Mental Health in Emerging Adulthood: Considering Age-Linked Patterns in the Stress Process

2025-06-21

Karen T. Van Gundy , Jessica G. Burke | Emerging Adulthood

Using longitudinal data from two cohorts of emerging adults (mean ages 17.5 and 21.7), we examined whether chronic strain exposure mediated age-cohort effects, and/or yielded age-cohort-moderated effects, on psychological distress; … Using longitudinal data from two cohorts of emerging adults (mean ages 17.5 and 21.7), we examined whether chronic strain exposure mediated age-cohort effects, and/or yielded age-cohort-moderated effects, on psychological distress; whether problem-, emotion-, and/or avoidance-oriented coping styles mediated and/or moderated chronic strain effects on distress; and whether those coping styles yielded age-cohort-moderated effects on distress net of chronic strain. Compared to the younger cohort respondents, the older cohort respondents reported lower chronic strain exposure, more frequent problem- and emotion-oriented coping, and less frequent avoidance-oriented coping. Cohort variations in psychological distress were mediated by chronic strain exposure. Across cohorts, psychological distress was associated with more frequent avoidance-oriented coping, which explained a modest portion of the positive relation between chronic strain and distress. Problem-oriented coping style was associated with lower distress only among the older cohort respondents. Sociological stress-process and life-course perspectives frame our discussion and directions for future research and practice.

Cognitive reserve relates to successful aging: A cross-sectional study focusing on psychological well-being and daily living activities in the elderly

2025-06-20

Zeynep Gümüş Demir , Merve Çebi | Applied Neuropsychology Adult

The increasingly aging population worldwide brings public health more into prominence. As reflecting the individual differences to effectively use brain regions and be resilient against age-related neural losses, cognitive reserve … The increasingly aging population worldwide brings public health more into prominence. As reflecting the individual differences to effectively use brain regions and be resilient against age-related neural losses, cognitive reserve (CR) can play a crucial role in promoting both psychological and physical aspects of successful aging. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between CR, successful aging, psychological well-being, and physical independence in a sample of healthy elderly. Ninety-two elderly (aged 65-88) with normal cognition participated in the study. Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire (CRIq), Successful Aging Scale (SAS), Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBSE), and Lawton Instrumental Daily Living Activities Scale (IADL) were used. Sociodemographic information was also collected. The analyses revealed that CR was significantly associated with the total SAS, PWSBE, and IADL scores. In addition, income level appeared to be a significant mediator between CR and PWBSE and SAS. Overall, our findings indicate that a stronger CR may support successful aging and serve as a protective factor for psychological well-being and physical independence during old age.

Correlation of the cognitive illusion of age with well-being in adolescence

2025-06-20

Anastasiya Novikova , Ю. А. Сыченко | Psychological-Educational Studies

Context and Relevance. This article considers one possible correlate of well-being, the cognitive illusion of age. A number of studies have shown the correlation of cognitive illusions of age with … Context and Relevance. This article considers one possible correlate of well-being, the cognitive illusion of age. A number of studies have shown the correlation of cognitive illusions of age with either subjective well-being or psychological well-being, studying it in samples with significant age variation. Objective. To identify the correlation of the cognitive illusion of age with both subjective and psychological well-being of individuals in adolescence and to establish the variables mediating this correlation. Hypotheses. Indicators of subjective and psychological well-being are hypothesized to be significantly higher in adolescents with a negative cognitive illusion of age compared to those with a positive cognitive illusion. Sex and employment are hypothesized to mediate the relationship between the cognitive illusion of age and both subjective and psychological well-being. Methods and Materials. The sample consisted of 96 students (M = 19,27, SD = 0,814, where 48% were young men) aged between 18 and 21 years. The following methods were used: &ldquo;Age-of-me&rdquo; (B. Barak); &ldquo;Life Satisfaction Scale&rdquo; (E. Diener); &ldquo;Positive and Negative Affect Schedule&rdquo; (D. Watson, L. Clark, A. Tellegen); &ldquo;Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-being&rdquo;. Results. The study found that subjective age overestimation (negative cognitive illusion of age), as opposed to positive cognitive illusion, is correlated with higher indicators of psychological and subjective well-being of a person in adolescence. The hypothesis that sex and employment mediate the correlation between the cognitive illusion of age and well-being was tested. It was found that regardless of sex and work experience, negative cognitive illusion was directly related to higher measures of well-being in young adulthood. Conclusions. The results suggest that the negative cognitive illusion of age may contribute to higher levels of both psychological and subjective well-being in adolescence.

Attitudes Toward Older People Among Nursing Students in Southeast Asia: A Narrative Review

2025-06-19

I Gede Putu Darma Suyasa , Ni Luh Putu Inca Buntari Agustini , Ni Kadek Sutini +2 more | Adi Husada Nursing Journal

The rapid growth of the older population worldwide has had significant consequences in the health care system, especially in preparing prospective nurses as health workers with positive attitudes towards older … The rapid growth of the older population worldwide has had significant consequences in the health care system, especially in preparing prospective nurses as health workers with positive attitudes towards older people. Unfortunately, students' attitudes have been reported to vary from positive attitudes to indications of ageism towards the older age group. This study aimed to identify and describe current findings regarding nursing students' attitudes toward older people in Southeast Asian countries. This study was conducted using a narrative review approach. The literature was sourced from international databases: PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCOhost, and ProQuest. Keywords included "attitude" AND "older people" OR "elderly" OR "older Adult” AND "nursing student". A total of 154 articles were found and there were 7 articles that met the inclusion criteria from five Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam. In general, nursing students in the five Southeast Asian countries have positive attitudes toward elderly health and are highly willing to become elderly nurses as their future career. The attitudes toward older people among nursing students are associated with the level of nursing students' knowledge about older people’s health, subjective norms towards older people, perceived behavioral control, good intentions, having learning experiences with project-based learning about older people’s health on campus, and having experience caring for older people during the education process. Incorporating more comprehensive Gerontic nursing content into the nursing education curriculum, including theoretical knowledge and direct practice opportunities, is imperative to increase students’ positive attitude toward older people.

From ageism to respectful ageism: how is the China-specific phenomenon formed?

2025-06-19

Yu-Jeong Han , Tao Sun | The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Abstract Ageism represents a significant international challenge within the field of gerontology, but the concept of respectful ageism is a phenomenon unique to China. This study explores the mechanisms through … Abstract Ageism represents a significant international challenge within the field of gerontology, but the concept of respectful ageism is a phenomenon unique to China. This study explores the mechanisms through which ageism is produced and subsequently transformed into respectful ageism. It specifically focuses on the implementation of the home-based care bed policy as a case study, grounded in Merton's theory of social structure and anomie. The study revealed that grassroots policy implementers, confronted with the interplay of institutionalized means and cultural goals, adopted a behavioral strategy characterized by ritualism. This approach facilitated the production mechanism of ageism, aligning seamlessly with the theoretical framework of social structure and anomie. However, owing to the influence of cultural traditions on individual behavioral reproduction, grassroots policy implementers undergo two additional processes: cultural retrospection and individual rethinking. These processes emerge after the formation of ageism and contribute to the transformation of ageism into respectful ageism. These findings elucidate the production mechanisms of ageism and the transformative processes that characterize respectful ageism, a phenomenon specific to China. The theoretical contribution of this research is that the individual behavioral strategies derived from social structure and anomie theory, within the Chinese context, are not merely outcomes of individual choice. Rather, the individual behavioral reproduction influenced by cultural traditions gives rise to new behavioral mechanisms among grassroots policy implementers. This research enhances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of respectful ageism within the Chinese context and illustrates the innovative impact of cultural traditions on the reproduction of individual behaviors.

The Role of Altruism and Personality Traits In Explaining Attitudes Towards The Elderly: A Comparative Study on Different Occupational Groups

2025-06-19

Mustafa ÖZGÖL , Fatma Altun | Bayburt Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi

The aim of this study is to examine the predictor role of altruism and personality traits in explaining the attitudes of candidates with the potential to work with elderly individuals. … The aim of this study is to examine the predictor role of altruism and personality traits in explaining the attitudes of candidates with the potential to work with elderly individuals. The sample of the study consists of 1419 university students studying in the programs of psychological counseling and guidance, elderly care and nursing. The study’s data were collected using Personal Information Form, Attitudes Towards Older People Scale, Ten-Item Personality Inventory, and the Altruism Scale. The variance described for the dependent variable was 11% for PCG, 8% for elderly care, and 22% for nursing in regression models created for each occupational group. Among the independent variables, altruism level and conscientiousness personality trait are significant predictors in explaining attitudes toward the elderly in all three programs.

Impact of a Multidimensional Community-Based Intervention on the Feeling of Unwanted Loneliness and Its Consequences: A Quasi-Experimental Study

2025-06-18

Alba Francisco-Sánchez , Sofía Martínez-León , Alejandro García-Pérez +3 more | Healthcare

Background/Objectives: Unwanted loneliness is the gap between the social relations a person has and those they want. The main objective of this research is to assess the impact of a … Background/Objectives: Unwanted loneliness is the gap between the social relations a person has and those they want. The main objective of this research is to assess the impact of a multidimensional community-based intervention on the feeling of unwanted loneliness in the population over the age of 65 years old who live alone, are under social risk, or are socially isolated living on La Palma island. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was designed with pre- and post-intervention (at three months) measurements, with no control group or randomization. A sample comprising 90 subjects was estimated for a small-moderate (0.3) or large (0.8) effect size, with a significance level (α) of 0.05 and a power (1 - β) of 0.8. Results: The intervention was initiated with 90 participants in 8 of the 9 Basic Health Districts from the La Palma Health Area. A moderate effect size (d = -0.77; 95%CI [-1.02, -0.52]) was evidenced in self-perceived loneliness. Three months after the proposed community-based intervention, significant differences were evidenced in adequate eating habits, physical activity, support network, anxiety, depression, and perceived social support. Conclusions: Compartiendo Salud (Sharing Health) presents promising results, as it exerts positive effects on health management among older adults that live alone. The results of this intervention could serve as a model to design replicable strategies in other communities, improving the quality of life and levels of perceived social support in older adults.

Comparing Emotion Regulation Success in the Lab and Daily Life Contexts in a Cognitively Diverse Sample

2025-06-18

Jocelyn Lai , Tabea Springstein , Claire M Growney +1 more | Affective Science

Regret Experiences and Coping in Old Age? A Case of Indian Older Adults

2025-06-18

Rhicha Raman , Saurabh Maheshwari | Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology

Physical fitness and depression across the lifespan

2025-06-17

Adilson Marques , Beatriz Iglésias , Tiago Ribeiro +1 more | Routledge eBooks

Bringing Our Old and Young Together to Improve Community Mental Health and Wellbeing

2025-06-17

Karen John | Journal of Humanistic Psychology

Hagestad and Uhlenberg’s incisive article makes clear the roots of ageism and age segregation, with age integration requiring stable and lasting interactions across generations. Standardized curricula and age segregation in … Hagestad and Uhlenberg’s incisive article makes clear the roots of ageism and age segregation, with age integration requiring stable and lasting interactions across generations. Standardized curricula and age segregation in schools take little account of individual differences in development, creativity, and talents among children and youth. Similar failures bedevil institutions for older people. In the UK, nonprofit community-based organizations are bringing young and old together with impressive results.

Integrating older persons’ narratives of resistance with critical discourse analysis to counter ageist discourses

2025-06-15

Ameer Ali , Illahi Bakhsh , Maya Khemlani David | Discourse & Society

This study examines ageist discourses in Pakistan’s Sindh province, employing an integrated approach that combines observations, narratives, and critical discourse analysis. Observations of participants in real-life settings were used to … This study examines ageist discourses in Pakistan’s Sindh province, employing an integrated approach that combines observations, narratives, and critical discourse analysis. Observations of participants in real-life settings were used to collect data. Moreover, six narrative interviews with older Sindhi participants were conducted to provide in-depth insights into how ageist discourses are constructed and resisted. The analysis demonstrated two dominant ageist discourses: the discourse of physical decline and the discourse of psychological instability. However, these discourses were countered by integrating participants’ narratives of resistance, highlighting their agency, preferred identities, and healthiness. This study contributes to the understanding of ageism in Sindh and underscores the importance of centering the voices and experiences of older persons in challenging ageist discourses.

From the peripheries of adulthood

2025-06-13

Yoshiko Matsumoto , Judit Kroo | Pragmatics & beyond. New series

Abstract This study considers how individuals who are peripheralized from core or dominant social positions perform linguistic stances to indirectly resist the behaviors and attitudes that are expected of them. … Abstract This study considers how individuals who are peripheralized from core or dominant social positions perform linguistic stances to indirectly resist the behaviors and attitudes that are expected of them. Focusing on the life-stage peripheries of youth and old age, the study uses discourse analysis of informal conversations among Japanese speakers to demonstrate how individuals from the opposite edges of adult life push back and reframe dominant narratives of life events including death, illness, and marriage and in so doing present alternative discourse of what these events signify. The study ultimately suggests that investigating phenomena on the periphery also provides theoretical and empirical insights into the core, offering more broadly applicable principles of meaning and identity construction. The findings challenge assumed divides in categories and the division between core and periphery itself.

Generative AI, Digital Skills, and Mental Wellbeing

2025-06-13

Carol McDonough , Ben Li | AEA Randomized Controlled Trials

Education and Successful Aging Among Chinese Elderly: Insights from CLASS Data

2025-06-13

Gu He , Qingli Tan , Yu Zhang +1 more | Research Square (Research Square)

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Objective:</bold> This study uses data from the 2020 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) to analyze the status of successful aging among Chinese elderly individuals and the impact of … <title>Abstract</title> <bold>Objective:</bold> This study uses data from the 2020 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) to analyze the status of successful aging among Chinese elderly individuals and the impact of education on successful aging. It explores the characteristics of China's aging process and the effects of education, providing a basis for formulating appropriate aging policies. <bold>Methods: </bold>The study included 9,181 participants, with 5,730 (62.41%) elderly individuals with low education, 2,356 (25.66%) with medium education, and 1,095 (11.93%) with high education. Descriptive statistical analysis was first conducted to compare the demographic characteristics of elderly individuals with different education levels. The study then described the levels of successful aging and the status of the five measurement dimensions for each group, using χ² tests for differences. Subsequently, multi-factor logistic regression was employed to analyze the effects of education, controlling for demographic variables, health status and behavioral variables, and family, community, and policy variables. Finally, based on the previous analysis, heterogeneity analysis was performed to examine the impact of education on successful aging across different regions, genders, ages, and income levels. <bold>Results: </bold>The overall level of successful aging among the elderly was 15.15% (1,391/9,181). The successful aging levels for elderly individuals with low, medium, and high education were 11.06%, 20.20%, and 25.66%, respectively (P < 0.01). Elderly individuals with higher education levels performed better than those with lower education in terms of chronic diseases, functional loss, cognitive function, depression symptoms, and social activity participation (P < 0.01). Multi-factor logistic regression results showed that, after controlling for demographic variables, elderly individuals with medium and high education had successful aging levels 1.581 times (OR=1.581, 95% CI=1.299-1.924) and 2.086 times (OR=2.086, 95% CI=1.677-2.595) higher, respectively, than those with low education. After further controlling for health status and behavioral variables, elderly individuals with medium and high education had successful aging levels 1.480 times (OR=1.480, 95% CI=1.210-1.811) and 1.818 times (OR=1.818, 95% CI=1.450-2.281) higher, respectively. After controlling for family, community, and policy variables, elderly individuals with medium and high education had successful aging levels 1.462 times (OR=1.462, 95% CI=1.192-1.794) and 1.767 times (OR=1.767, 95% CI=1.401-2.229) higher, respectively. Heterogeneity analysis revealed that education had a positive and significant impact on successful aging in most elderly groups, with stronger effects for rural residents, females, younger elderly individuals, and those with low income (P < 0.05). <bold>Conclusion: </bold>This study shows that the level of successful aging among Chinese elderly is relatively low, and there are significant differences in successful aging levels across elderly groups with different education levels. Overall, education has a positive impact on successful aging among Chinese elderly individuals. Education is a critical factor in improving successful aging, especially for rural, female, younger, and low-income elderly individuals. By incorporating the Chinese experience, this research seeks to enrich the cross-cultural applicability of existing successful aging theories, provide empirical evidence to inform aging policies in developing countries

Generative AI, Digital Skills, and Mental Wellbeing

2025-06-13

Carol McDonough , Ben Li | AEA Randomized Controlled Trials

Optimal Cut-Off Point for Self-Rated Successful Aging Based on the Rowe and Kahn's Model

2025-06-12

Cem Soylu , Banu Çengelci Özekes | Journal of Applied Gerontology

There is no consensus on the optimal self-rated successful aging (SRSA) cut-off point for determining whether aging is successful. The present study aims to address this gap by identifying reliable … There is no consensus on the optimal self-rated successful aging (SRSA) cut-off point for determining whether aging is successful. The present study aims to address this gap by identifying reliable SRSA cut-off points through a comparison based on Rowe and Kahn’s (1997) successful aging model. A sample of 478 older adult residents of municipal centers and nursing homes aged ≥50 years ( M = 72.11, SD = 10.43) were subjected to the single-item SRSA evaluation, as well as scale sets measuring Rowe and Kahn’s (1997) criteria. A receiver-operating characteristic analysis was then used to determine a range of potential SRSA cut-off points to discriminate between successful and not successful agers. The application of Rowe and Kahn’s (1997) successful aging criteria revealed an optimum cut-off point of ≥7, having the best balance of sensitivity (86.7 or 74.9%) and specificity (46.9 or 55.3%).

Testing a prediction model of flourishing and languishing in middle-aged adults: Are the potential benefits of living by amor fati in mid-life predicated on being socially connected, not being lonely, or both?

2025-06-12

Edward C. Chang | The Humanistic Psychologist

Trust and subjective well-being across the lifespan: A multilevel meta-analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal associations.

2025-06-12

Shanshan Bi , Marlies Maes , Gonneke W. J. M. Stevens +4 more | Psychological Bulletin

Trust in other people and institutions is associated with people's well-being across the lifespan. Yet, the strength of these associations varies considerably across studies, and it remains unclear which factors … Trust in other people and institutions is associated with people's well-being across the lifespan. Yet, the strength of these associations varies considerably across studies, and it remains unclear which factors account for this variation. Moreover, some longitudinal studies indicate that trust not only predicts well-being but that subjective well-being also predicts levels of trust. This preregistered meta-analysis provides a comprehensive synthesis of this vast field of research, establishing both the direction and strength of the association between trust and subjective well-being. Based on 991 effect sizes, including a total of 2,518,769 participants, the results of the multilevel meta-analysis revealed a positive overall association between trust and subjective well-being (r = .21). The strength of this association varied depending on the type of trust and component of subjective well-being examined, the age of the participants, and the national-level generalized trust of the country in which the study took place. Despite these variations, the association between trust and subjective well-being was found across all sample and study characteristics examined, underlining the robustness of the association. In addition, results of the longitudinal meta-analyses showed that trust predicts subsequent well-being (k = 55) and that well-being predicts subsequent trust (k = 49). Together, these results suggest that trust and well-being mutually reinforce each other in a cyclical fashion. Since trust needs to be built, these findings underscore the importance of being genuinely trustworthy, whether as an individual or as an institution. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

'Grandfluencers'

2025-06-11

Sandra Arias Montesinos , Concepción Campillo Alhama , Irene Ramos Soler | VISUAL REVIEW International Visual Culture Review / Revista Internacional de Cultura Visual

En un contexto global donde el envejecimiento poblacional es una realidad creciente, las redes sociales se posicionan como un espacio donde los mayores pueden interactuar en la esfera pública, asumiendo … En un contexto global donde el envejecimiento poblacional es una realidad creciente, las redes sociales se posicionan como un espacio donde los mayores pueden interactuar en la esfera pública, asumiendo roles que desafían los estereotipos edadistas. Este trabajo estudia el uso de TikTok como canal de comunicación de adultos mayores con presencia e influencia en la red social. El objetivo es categorizar sus mensajes y comprender qué tipología genera más engagement y en qué públicos, relacionando esta visibilidad como una contribución a la ruptura de estereotipos negativos asociados al adulto mayor. Para ello, se ha realizado un análisis de contenido sobre 11 perfiles de grandfluencers de TikTok en España. Los hallazgos se contrastan con entrevistas en profundidad a los grandfluencers y sus familiares. El fenómeno de los grandfluencers es especialmente relevante ya que promueve interacciones intergeneracionales que pueden derribar prejuicios asociados a la edad. Los grandfluencers utilizan estrategias creativas, como el humor y el storytelling, para conectar emocionalmente con sus seguidores, contribuyendo a normalizar la diversidad generacional en espacios digitales dominados por los jóvenes. Asimismo, este estudio puede tener implicaciones significativas para el diseño de políticas inclusivas y estrategias comunicativas que fomenten la equidad intergeneracional y el envejecimiento activo.

Help patients feel at home

2025-06-09

| BDJ In Practice

The presence and search for meaning in life in late adulthood. The meaning of cosmic gerotranscendence

2025-06-05

Agnieszka Kozerska | Aging & Mental Health

The study was conducted in two stages. The aim of the first stage was to build a typology of older people, taking into account two dimensions of the Meaning in … The study was conducted in two stages. The aim of the first stage was to build a typology of older people, taking into account two dimensions of the Meaning in life variable: Presence of meaning in life (MLQ_P) and Search for meaning in life (MLQ_S). The aim of the second stage was to test the mediating role of Cosmic Gerotranscendence in the relationship between MLQ_P and MLQ_S. The cross-sectional study involved people aged 65+ living in Central Europe. Data were collected using questionnaires: MLQ, SWLS, GST-2. In the first stage, the cluster analysis method and one-way ANOVA was used. In the second stage, mediation analysis was used. The grouping of research subjects revealed three types of elderly people. The search for meaning takes place in a group that already feels its presence in their lives. The study confirmed the hypothesis about the mediating role of Cosmic Gerotranscendence in the relationship between MLQ_P and MLQ_S in older people. The study suggests a research direction for researchers studying the topic of lifespan human development/learning. An approach that shifts attention toward spirituality may provide new insights into the study of successful aging and existential learning in older adults.

Little to no evidence for historical improvements in verbal learning among older adults.

2025-06-05

Denis Gerstorf , Stephen Aichele , Ulman Lindenberger +2 more | Psychology and Aging

History-graded increases in older adults' levels of cognitive performance across a number of different ability domains are well documented. Less is known, however, about whether such historical advances generalize to … History-graded increases in older adults' levels of cognitive performance across a number of different ability domains are well documented. Less is known, however, about whether such historical advances generalize to measures of verbal learning and whether rates of within-person change therein have also historically shifted. To examine these questions, we used up to 17+-years within-person longitudinal change data obtained in the Manchester Longitudinal Study of Cognition (MLSC). We matched cohorts and weighted analyses by age, number of measurement occasions, and education and compared up to four-wave longitudinal data from 1,279 participants born earlier in historical time (1903-1919, 2,668 observations) versus 1,049 participants born later (1920-1935, 2,239 observations). We applied growth models that orthogonalized between-person age and within-person aging effects, controlled for retest effects, and adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. We found little to no evidence for historical improvements in verbal learning among older adults. It was only at the zero-order level when participants were in their 60s that later-born cohorts outperformed their matched earlier-born peers. We also found no evidence of historical improvements in the rate of within-person aging-related decline in verbal learning. If anything, the later-born cohort appeared to experience somewhat steeper declines, particularly at older ages. After statistically controlling for sex, occupational status, and city of residence, the only remaining cohort difference was the steeper quadratic (accelerated) rate of decline observed in the later-born cohort. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Impact of grandchildren on episodic memory and future-time perspective of older adults

2025-06-05

L. Bruno , Patrick Bonin , Gaëtan Thiebaut +1 more | Memory & Cognition