Present-Future Self-Continuity and Intergenerational Communication as Predictors of Young Adults’ Evaluations of Older Adults and Attitudes Toward Aging

This study examined how young adults’ perceived similarity to their future self at age 70 ( present-future self-continuity) and experiences of environmental “chatter” about aging predicted their views of older adults, and their anxiety and efficacy related to aging. Experiencing nonaccommodation from older adults predicted greater anxiety, lower efficacy, and more negative views of older adults; greater present-future self-continuity predicted higher efficacy about aging. Young adults’ present-future self-continuity also moderated the effects of accommodation from older adults on these outcomes.

People Internalized More Attitudes Toward Aging During the Pandemic

Older adults are viewed as being vulnerable to COVID-19. Previous research revealed that individuals would internalize or dissociate with attitudes toward aging when they aged. In this study, data collected before the COVID-19 pandemic were compared with those collected during the pandemic to assess whether the pandemic might make older adults internalize or dissociate with attitudes toward aging to a greater extent.123 Hong Kong participants (50.4% females, M=60.59±13.28 years old) were recruited in a two-wave survey (wave 1 in 2018 and wave 2 in 2020) on attitudes toward aging and future self-views. After comparing the correlations between attitudes toward aging and future self-views in the two waves, we found stronger positive correlations between these 2 variables in wave 2 than in wave 1 in the personality and finance domains, but not in the family, independence, or health domains. These findings suggest that internalization of attitudes toward aging might be domain-specific. The pandemic might make older adults more likely to internalize positive personality attitudes toward aging and negative finance attitudes toward aging into their future self-views. Professionals may consider utilizing the internalization process to promote a positive attitude toward aging during the pandemic.

Attitudes Toward Aging And Happiness In Chinese Old Adults：A Mediating Effect of Spirituality

Background: Attitudes toward aging in old adults are critical for their adjustment, health-promoting behavior, quality of life and life satisfaction. However, fairly little is known about the inner mechanism between attitudes toward aging and happiness in Chinse old adults. This study examined the relationship between attitudes toward aging and happiness in old adults by introducing the mediator of spirituality in a Chinese context. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among persons aged 50 to 100 years old was carried out in 16 selected cities of 9 provinces (municipality) in Western,Central,and Eastern China. Trained research assistants collected data by face to face interview with the aid of online questionnaire. The Attitude to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ),Howden’ Spirituality Assessment (SA),and Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness (MUNSH) were used to measure participants’ attitudes toward aging,spirituality and happiness. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25 and AMOS 24.Results: The mean scores of AAQ and its three domains of psychosocial loss, physical change and psychological growth,spirituality and happiness were 81.85(+10.39), 26.46(+4.97), 28.34(+4.69), 27.01(+4.02),101.06 (+12.88),and 31.72 (+9.87), respectively. Three domains, spirituality and happiness were positively correlated with each other. The spirituality acted as a full mediator on the positive relationship between the two domains of physical change and psychological growth and happiness.Conclusions: First, Chinese old adults’ attitudes toward aging was positive and positively related to spirituality and happiness; second, Chinese old adults’ spirituality was high and positively related to happiness; third, Chinese old adults’ happiness was fair and the significantly positive association between old adults’ attitude toward aging (i.e. physical change and psychological growth) and happiness was entirely due to the growth of spirituality.

Ageist Attitudes Are Associated with Will-to-Live and Moderated by Age, Medical Conditions and Attitudes toward Aging

The extent to which older adults’ ageist attitudes associate with their will-to-live has barely been studied. Moreover, whether this effect is moderated by older adults’ age, medical conditions, and attitudes toward their own aging has not been investigated. These associations were examined by two studies. Study 1 examined the relationship between ageist attitudes and will-to-live among individuals aged 48–97, and the moderating roles of age and medical conditions on this connection. Study 2 reassessed this connection in a new sample of older adults (people aged 60–94 years) and examined the moderating role of their attitudes toward aging in this regard. In line with the hypothesis of the first study, ageist attitudes and will-to-live were negatively associated among older adults with more medical conditions. In accordance with the hypotheses of study 2, the ageist attitudes and will-to-live connection was reconstructed, and when regressed on the ageist attitudes × attitudes toward aging interaction, it remained significant only among those with increased ageist attitudes. These findings demonstrate the negative effect that ageist attitudes may have on will-to-live, especially among the very old, and particularly when their health deteriorates, and support the utility of interventions aimed at increasing their will-to-live.

Effects of Horticultural Activities on Attitudes toward Aging, Sense of Hope and Hand–Eye Coordination in Older Adults in Residential Care Facilities

This study investigated the effects of an 8-week horticultural activity intervention on attitudes toward aging, sense of hope, and hand–eye coordination in 88 older adults in residential care facilities. In the experimental group, the mean score for “attitudes toward aging” increased from 3.81 before the intervention to 4.74 points after the intervention (standard deviation SD = 0.24 and 0.27, respectively), and the control group dropped from 3.75 to 3.70 (standard deviations, respectively SD = 0.27 and 0.28). The mean score for “sense of hope” increased from 3.28 before the intervention to 3.81 points after the intervention (SD = 0.49 and 0.26, respectively). In contrast to the control group, the mean score gradually declined from 3.26 to 3.16 points (standard deviation SD = 0.54 and 0.48, respectively). In the test of hand–eye coordination, the time required to complete the cup stacking test significantly decreased from 33.56 to 25.38 s in the experimental group but did not significantly change in the control group. Generalized estimating equation analysis revealed a significant interaction between group and time (p < 0.001). The data trends revealed significant differences in outcomes between the experimental group and the control group. At 3 months after the end of the study, the effect size in the experimental group remained higher than that in the control group.