Activity Patterns and Loneliness in Later Life: The Mediating Effects of Social Support and Attitudes Toward Aging.

Studies have documented the inconsistent influences of activity participation on health. However, the underlying mechanisms connecting activity patterns to loneliness are relatively understudied. Using data on 8,545 respondents aged 60 or older from the 2014 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey, we used latent class analysis to identify the patterns of participating in eight activities and path analysis to examine the mediating effects of formal support, informal support, and aging attitudes in the relationship of activity patterns and loneliness. Three meaningful patterns of activity (high activity, low activity, and working caregivers) were identified. Working caregivers and low activity groups, compared to high activity, showed higher levels of loneliness in later life. Informal support, rather than formal support, and attitudes toward aging mediated the relationship between activity patterns and loneliness in later life. This study highlights the importance of fuller engagement in diverse political, economic, and community activities to prevent loneliness. Additionally, intervention programs that facilitate joint support from family, community, and government and shape scientific understanding of aging are critical for alleviating loneliness in later life.

Attitudes and Beliefs on Aging Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Serious Mental Illness.

Older adults with serious mental illness (SMI) experience increased medical comorbidities, disability, and early mortality, but little is known about how they perceive the process of aging. This study explored attitudes and beliefs about aging among n = 20 middle aged and older adults (M = 59.8 years; range 47-66) with SMI in a state psychiatric hospital. We conducted semistructured interviews using the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire (AAQ) and analyzed narrative accounts using a grounded theory approach. The mean scores of overall attitudes toward aging and of the subscale of perception of psychological growth were both positive compared to a neutral rating (p = 0.026 and p = 0.004, respectively). Study participants rated their experience on the subscales of psychosocial loss and physical health change as neutral. Despite substantial psychiatric, medical, and functional disabilities, older adults with SMI in this study of psychiatric inpatients perceived the process of aging as generally positive, suggesting resilience and potential positive emotional growth in older age.

Older People Living with HIV Were Less Physically Active Than Their Uninfected Counterparts in China: A Matched-Sample Mediation Analysis.

The study compared the level of physical activity (PA) between older people living with HIV (PLWH) and their HIV-negative counterparts in China and tested the mediational roles of self-compassion, attitudes toward aging, and perceived stress in the between-group difference in PA. From December 2017 to August 2018, face-to-face interviews were conducted among 337 and 363 HIV-positive and -negative people aged ≥ 50 in Yongzhou City, Hunan, China. Path analysis was performed. The proportions of low, moderate, and high levels of PA in the HIV-positive and -negative groups were 18.9% versus 6.7%, 43.1% versus 32.0%, and 38.0% versus 61.3%, respectively, yielding a statistically significant difference. The path analysis showed that older PLWH reported less self-compassion and positive attitudes toward aging, which was in turn associated with more perceived stress and ultimately associated with less PA. Chinese older PLWH were more sedentary than their HIV-negative counterparts. Future PA interventions may modify the mediators.

Attitudes toward aging as a psychological resource among caregivers of persons living with dementia.

Although there are a number of existing interventions to support caregivers in managing the behaviors and functioning of care recipients with dementia, less attention has focused on caring for caregivers and understanding how their characteristics may contribute to distress or wellbeing Positive psychological resources can promote health and well-being among caregivers and may also serve as protective factors that buffer negative caregiving experiences and minimize burden and stress. Informal dementia caregivers (N = 99, mean age = 54) answered survey questionnaires related to psychological resources (e.g., Brief Aging Perceptions Questionnaire, Caregiver Self-efficacy for Managing Dementia, Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale) to explore the connection to their emotional health. After controlling for caregiver factors and care recipient factors, caregivers' aging attitudes and caregiving self-efficacy were predictive of both caregivers' positive and negative affect. Caregivers' aging attitudes also directly affected their emotional health and indirectly influenced emotional health through self-efficacy for caregiving. Future caregiver outreach and education should highlight positive aspects of caregiving, provide accurate dementia information, and improve psychoeducation regarding typical/atypical aging experiences while dispelling negative age stereotypes, which may foster better adaptation and resilience to a dementia caregiver role and strengthen positive mental representations of dementia caregiving.

Gratitude as a Mediator of the Effects of Savoring on Positive Adjustment to Aging.

We extended the previous experimental work with older adults by testing mediating variables through which savoring valuable "life lessons" improves attitudes toward aging and boosts well-being. A sample of 202 adults aged 65 or older were randomly assigned to either an experimental condition (in which they reflected on important lessons life had taught them) or a control condition (in which they reflected on their typical morning routine). Contemplating life lessons increased feelings of gratitude, which in turn boosted positive attitudes toward aging, life satisfaction, state hope, and state self-esteem. Additional analyses supported a three-path mediational model, in which reflecting on life lessons increased levels of savoring, which led to greater gratitude, which in turn predicted stronger positive attitudes toward aging, life satisfaction, and hope. We discuss implications of these findings for future research on savoring interventions for older adults and suggest future directions designed to advance understanding of these experimental effects.

Perceived Health and Life Satisfaction of Elderly People: Testing the Moderating Effects of Social Support, Attitudes Toward Aging, and Senior Privilege.

As health declines with age, it is critical to explore moderators that could buffer the impact of declining health on life satisfaction of elderly people. This study aims to test the moderating effects of social support, attitudes toward aging, and senior privilege on the relationship between perceived health and life satisfaction among elderly people. The study used a sample of 5809 Chinese elderly people. Multiple regression analyses were performed to test the moderating effects of the study variables along with gender difference. The results show that social support and attitudes toward aging do not moderate the relationship between perceived health and life satisfaction; senior privilege however, amplifies the impact of perceived health on life satisfaction for female elderly people. The findings recommend personalized provision of senior privilege based on health status and types of diseases, rather than only based on age; and suggest tailored female-oriented social services such as psychological counseling and humanistic care.

Subjective Age in Older Korean Americans: The Impact of Functional Disability Mediated by Attitudes Toward Aging.

The present study aims to examine how subjective age of older Korean Americans would be affected by functional disability and attitudes toward aging. We hypothesized that (a) both functional disability and attitudes toward aging would have a direct effect on subjective age and (b) the effect of functional disability on subjective age would be mediated by attitudes toward aging. Our analyses of the survey data with 208 community-dwelling Korean Americans aged 60 and older (mean age = 69.6, SD = 7.51) showed that the indirect effect of functional disability on subjective age through attitudes toward aging [-.020 (.009)] was significant (bias-corrected 95% confidence interval [-.039, -.006]). The findings suggest that functional disability fosters negative attitudes toward aging, which in turn leads to the feelings of being older than actual age. Our study suggests ways to preserve and promote positive perceptions of age and aging.

Students report more positive attitudes toward older adults following an interprofessional service-learning course.

The aim of this study was to assess undergraduate students' perceptions of older adults over the semester in an interprofessional service-learning course that implemented a health promotion program called Bingocize® at community facilities for older adults. Students were surveyed at the beginning of the semester, at midterm, and at the conclusion of the course. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to assess the students' perceptions and experiences. Results suggest that a course on aging that includes interprofessional service-learning in geriatric settings is associated with a significant increase in positive perceptions of the older adult population. Further research, however, is warranted to validate the findings.

Social work students' Service Learning experiences with grandfamilies: Contact, comfort, and attitudes.

One way to increase student learning about older adults and aging family issues is to engage in community-based field experiences. Results from pre- and post-surveys with 29 Bachelors of Social Work students enrolled in a year-long practicum course to assess their change in the level of contact, comfort, and attitudes with older adults and grandfamilies (i.e., grandparents/kin and the children in their home) are discussed. Students who met with grandfamilies (n = 9) were compared to students who met with older adults in a nursing home (n = 6) and students who met with children from an afterschool program or child treatment facility (n = 9). One-way ANOVA's revealed group differences in contact and quality of contact with grandfamilies. No significant differences were found for contact with older adults or comfort working with older adults and grandfamilies, or for attitudes toward older adults between the three groups. As a result of this project, educators should develop learning opportunities for students to increase their contact and comfort with older adults and aging families.

Enhancing positive perceptions of aging by savoring life lessons.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of savoring valuable life lessons on perceptions of aging and on well-being among older adults. METHOD: A total of 303 adults (mean age = 68.12 years) were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: savoring life lessons (n = 95), reflecting on negative aspects of aging (n = 129), or untreated-control condition (n = 79). Participants in the savoring condition wrote about a valuable lesson they had learned in growing older, whereas participants in the negative-aging condition wrote about physical losses they had experienced in aging. RESULTS: After controlling for baseline happiness, health, gender, and age, participants who savored valuable life lessons reported greater positive perceptions of aging and life satisfaction, compared to participants in the negative-aging and untreated-control conditions. There were no differences across conditions in negative perceptions of aging or in anxiety. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that savoring valuable life lessons could be an effective addition to psychoeducational programs designed to improve perceptions of aging.

The association between negative attitudes toward aging and mental health among middle-aged and older gay and heterosexual men in Israel.

OBJECTIVES: The association between negative attitudes toward aging and mental health (indicated by depressive symptoms, neuroticism, and happiness) was explored among Israeli middle-aged and older gay and heterosexual men. METHOD: In a community-dwelling sample, 152 middle-aged and older gay men and 120 middle-aged and older heterosexual men at the age range of 50-87 (M = 59.3, SD = 7.5) completed measures of negative attitudes toward aging, depressive symptoms, neuroticism, and happiness. RESULTS: After controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, the association between negative attitudes toward aging and mental health was moderated by sexual orientation, demonstrating that negative attitudes toward aging were more strongly associated with adverse mental health concomitants among middle-aged and older gay men compared to middle-aged and older heterosexual men. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest vulnerability of middle-aged and older gay men to risks of aging, as their mental health is markedly linked with their negative attitudes toward aging. This vulnerability should be addressed by clinicians and counselors who work with middle-aged and older gay men.

Implementing an interdisciplinary intergenerational program using the Cyber Seniors® reverse mentoring model within higher education.

Intergenerational service-learning in higher education positively affects older adults and students, but little is known about the effectiveness of interdisciplinary, reverse mentoring programs that use technology as the medium of bringing generations together. This study describes an intergenerational service-learning program that utilizes reverse mentoring within higher education, the "Engaging Generations Program," at a midsized public university in New England where students help older adults learn about technology, and students gain communication and teaching skills. In this article, we outline how the program was implemented, present quantitative data on participation outcomes for students and older adults and qualitative data from older adults, and discuss best practices. Analysis of pre/post surveys found that students' attitudes toward aging improved (p < 0.01) and older adults interest in technology improved (p < 0.05) after program participation. Best practices identified included: multiple meetings with the same pair to deepen friendships, in-person training for student leaders, student responsibility for scheduling, tailoring sessions to each participant, student documentation of meetings, and active involvement by community partners.

The relationship between attitudes toward aging and health-promoting behaviours in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Identifying the factors that are associated with health-promoting behaviours in older adults is necessary to increase their willingness and motivation to participate in health-promotion activities. Understanding context-specific attitudes in relation to their influence on health-promoting behaviours is crucial in designing efficient interventions that foster health-promoting behaviours among older adults. AIM: This study aimed to examine the relationships between attitudes towards aging and health-promoting behaviours in older adults in Turkey. METHODS: The study used a descriptive-correlational design. A convenience sample of 448 community-dwelling older adults who were 65 years and older and cognitively intact were selected from 6 family health centres in the city of Denizli in Turkey. The data were collected between March and June of 2014 using the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explore the predictors of health-promoting behaviours. FINDINGS: Attitudes toward aging, the psychosocial loss subscale, and education were statistically significant predictors of health-promoting behaviours. Attitudes toward aging were the strongest predictor of health-promoting behaviours in older adults. CONCLUSION: Attitude towards aging is a factor that affects health-promoting behaviours, and it should be considered during interventions for improving health promoting behaviours.

Attitudes and Experiences With Older Adults: A Case for Service Learning for Undergraduates.

The current study examined whether relationship quality with older adults currently and in childhood, as well as experience with older adults, was associated with biases toward older adults and interest in working with older adults as a possible career area. The authors sampled undergraduate students (N = 753, M = 18.97 years, SD = 2.11 years) from a Northern California university. In hierarchical regression analyses, higher perceived quality of relationships with older adult family members, higher perceived social support, and lower perceived conflict from relationships with older adults was significantly associated with positive attitudes toward older adults. Interest in working with older adults was significantly associated with taking courses in aging, providing care to an older adult, and volunteering with older adults. These results suggest that positive relationships with older adults are useful in reducing biases, though student interactions with older adults are key in helping to promote interest in working with older adults.

Longitudinal Associations of Neighborhood Social Cohesion With Self-Perceptions of Aging and Loneliness.

OBJECTIVES: One's aging experience is structurally embedded in the social aspects of the residential environment. However, it is largely unknown how this upstream contextual factor may shape self-perceptions of aging (SPA) and loneliness, critical aspects of later-life psychological well-being with profound health implications. This study examines the longitudinal association of neighborhood social cohesion with SPA and -loneliness, as well as the potential bidirectional associations between outcomes. METHODS: This study used 8-year data from the Health and Retirement Study, with an analytic sample of 9,299 U.S. adults aged 50 or older. Latent growth curve models were implemented to assess the associations of baseline neighborhood social cohesion with trajectories of SPA and loneliness. Path analysis was conducted to examine the longitudinal mediation mechanisms connecting neighborhood social cohesion with SPA and loneliness. RESULTS: Respondents from cohesive neighborhoods at baseline started with and maintained more positive initial SPA over time, but their positive perceptions decreased faster over time. Cohesive neighborhoods were associated with lower levels of loneliness over an 8-year study period, but also with slower rates of decline in loneliness. Path analysis revealed that neighborhood social cohesion indirectly affected SPA and loneliness, via bidirectional mechanisms. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates the significant role of environmental factors beyond individual predictors and advocates for the potential of neighborhood environments as a target for interventions to foster positive aging perception and tackle loneliness. Furthermore, it indicates that loneliness and SPA could reciprocally influence each other in the context of neighborhood social cohesion, enriching our understanding of their dynamics.

A brief version of the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire for older Chinese adults: development and psychometric evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Positive attitudes toward aging are considered essential for achieving psychological well-being in later life. However, there is currently a lack of a concise and comprehensive measurement tool specifically designed to assess attitudes toward aging among the elderly population in China. To address this gap, the present study aimed to develop a brief version of the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire tailored to older Chinese individuals and evaluate its psychometric properties. METHODS: Initially, a sample of community-dwelling older adults (Sample 1: n = 442, aged 60-88) was utilized to establish a new scale format. Subsequently, two convenience samples (Sample 2: n = 311, aged 60-90; Sample 3: n = 164, aged 60-89) were employed to evaluate the psychometric properties of this scale, including factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. RESULTS: We selected 12 items from the original questionnaire to create the brief scale. The brief scale maintained the three-factor structure of the full-format version, encompassing psychosocial loss, physical change, and psychological growth, and demonstrated adequate psychometric properties. CONCLUSIONS: This development process shortens the administration time of the questionnaire while avoiding excessive loss of information. The newly developed scale serves as a reliable and valid assessment tool for measuring attitudes toward aging among older Chinese individuals and is well-suited for implementation in large-scale surveys that utilize an extensive array of questionnaires. This tool can be applied to assessing the effectiveness of interventions aimed at eliminating ageism.

The Association of Self-Perception of Aging and Quality of Life in Older Adults: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Self-perception of aging is an important psychosocial factor that can influence quality of life in older age. This review aimed to synthesize findings on the association between self-perception of aging and quality of life among older adults aged 60 and above. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in 4 electronic databases (Ovid Medline, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Web of Science). Studies conducted in English and including measures on the perception of aging and quality of life were included in this review. A total of 32 observational studies (21 cross-sectional, 8 longitudinal, 2 mixed-method, and 1 qualitative) met the inclusion criteria. Outcomes reported in the included studies were quality of life, physical health and functioning, psychological health, mental health, and general well-being. RESULTS: Overall, 20 quantitative studies indicated a strong association between positive perception of aging and increased quality of life. Similarly, 9 quantitative studies demonstrated that negative perception of aging is associated with lower quality of life. Results of the mixed-method and qualitative studies indicated that older adults with higher morale and good physical capability had more positive perceptions of health. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These results suggest that promoting a positive perception of aging and a self-care attitude would help to enhance older adults' quality of life and should be incorporated into future health promotions and interventions.

Ageist Attitudes Among Radiologic Science Professionals.

PURPOSE: To measure radiologic science professionals' current attitudes toward older adults. METHODS: The Geriatrics Attitude Scale (GAS) paper survey was distributed to radiology and radiation oncology personnel in a large, single teaching hospital system. The GAS provides a global measure of ageist attitudes using 14 questions and 4 subscales. Demographic information also was collected. RESULTS: The total sample (N = 74) comprised radiology and radiation oncology practitioners from rural and nonrural facilities in the health system. Of the 14 questions, 3 yielded significant differences between medical imaging and radiation therapy practitioners. There were no significant effects for gender, race, years of experience, or facility type. DISCUSSION: Although significant differences were found between medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals for some of the constructs, both groups had positive attitudes overall toward older adults as measured by the GAS and subscales. Interventions to disrupt ageism should be introduced to make positive shifts in attitudes. CONCLUSION: The United Nations has declared 2021 to 2030 the Decade of Healthy Ageing; people are challenged to change how they think, feel, and act toward aging and older adults. This pilot study provides a timely baseline for further research as older adults continue to challenge the U.S. health care system for the near future.

The Role of Place Attachment in the Relationship between Attitudes toward Aging and Subjective Well-Being among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Taiwan.

Subjective well-being presents a societal challenge for vulnerable older adults. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of place attachment in the relationship between attitudes toward aging and subjective well-being among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. Two waves of investigations were conducted to examine the interplay between attitudes toward aging, subjective well-being, and place attachment among older adults. In Wave I, 1190 participants were enrolled, revealing predominantly younger cohorts with substantial educational levels. The subsequent Wave II involved 483 participants, maintaining continuity in characteristics. Subjective well-being remained moderate across waves, with prevalent positive attitudes toward aging. Place attachment scores indicated moderate to high associations. After controlling for demographics, structural equation modeling (SEM) in both waves revealed significant positive associations: attitudes toward aging influenced well-being, attitudes toward aging were positively associated with place attachment, and place attachment was positively related to well-being. Mediation testing confirmed the mediating role of place attachment in the relationship between attitudes toward aging and well-being. These findings underscore the important role of place attachment. It is evident that improving attitudes toward aging is an effective intervention which can lead to a better sense of well-being by enhancing place attachment to empower civil society.

Attitudes toward Aging among College Students: Results from an Intergenerational Reminiscence Project.

The detrimental effects of negative attitudes toward aging among younger adults extend to both older and young adults, highlighting the need for attention from academics, applied researchers, and practitioners. To improve college students' attitudes toward aging, an intergenerational reminiscence intervention was conducted. College students, who were randomized to intervention or control groups and matched with older adults, made weekly phone calls to community-dwelling older adults with cognitive impairment for ten weeks. This study investigated whether college students improved their attitudes toward aging after participating in this project. A total of 64 college student participants completed the whole intervention and all data collection. The Fraboni Scale of Ageism was used to measure attitudes toward aging and administered at three time points (pre-, mid-, and post-test). Parametric and nonparametric tests were examined to understand changes over time, and post-hoc analyses were conducted to understand timepoints in which changes occurred. The results showed that both the intervention and control groups evidenced a decrease in the majority of the ageism scale, including statistical improvements in three specific negative items, which were "Seniors are stingy and hoard money", "Seniors live in the past", and "I prefer not to spend time with seniors". Overall, the findings indicate that weekly engagement with older adults is promising in improving attitudes toward aging among college students. Implications for future research on intergenerational contacts to improve attitudes toward aging are discussed.