Attitude toward own aging and mental health in post-menopausal women

Abstract

Introduction Attitudes toward own aging (ATOA) refers to expectations about the personal experience of aging. As of now, there is limited literature that addresses the impact of ATOA on indicators of psychological, physical, and social health. In this study, we examine associations between ATOA and several measures associated with successful aging. Methods A detailed cross-sectional survey questionnaire on successful aging was completed by 1,973 older women enrolled in the San Diego site of the Women's Health Initiative study. ATOA was measured using the Philadelphia Geriatric Morale Scale (PGMS) Results The final sample consisted of 1151 women. The mean ATOA score was 3.8 indicating generally positive ATOA. Positive ATOA score was significantly associated with younger age, lower income, being married, higher SF-36 Physical Composite scores, higher SF-36 Mental composite scores, lower depression scores, and higher resilience scores. Approximately 40% of variance in ATOA scores was explained by successful aging-related domain scores. Conclusions Better physical and emotional functioning, greater resilience and lower depression are associated with more positive ATOA. Associations with sociodemographic traits are complex. Modifying ATOA may have potential to impact a broad range of health and successful aging related outcomes.

Aging Expectations are Associated With Physical Activity and Health Among Older Adults of Low Socioeconomic Status

“…There are mixed results on the relationship between SES and AE. While some data suggest that those of low SES have better AE (Kavirajan et al, 2011), there seems to be greater evidence to support the contrary (i.e., lower SES is associated with more negative AE) (Bryant et al, 2012;Bodner, Cohen-Fridel, &Yaretzky, 2011). For example, in a group of 126 older adults aged 64-94 years, Bodner et al (2011) found that ageist attitudes differed significantly between community-dwelling older adults and those living in sheltered housing, such that those living in sheltered housing were more likely to hold ageist attitudes (poor AE) and had a poorer quality of life as well as poorer mental health.…”

“…Previous research has shown that there is an association between AE and physical health. In a study conducted among postmenopausal women (n = 1,151) with a mean age of 72.1 ± 7.2, Kavirajan et al (2011) found that higher physical and mental health-related quality of life and greater resilience were associated with better AE. In a similar study of community-dwelling men and women (n = 421) aged 71.7 ± 7.9, more positive AE were associated with higher levels of satisfaction with life, better self-reported physical and mental health, and lower levels of both anxiety and depression (Bryant et al, 2012).…”

Self-perceived uselessness and associated factors among older adults in China

“…Most studies have revealed that, among older adults in various populations, increasing age is associated with more negative perceptions of aging and uselessness [47, 49, 59–61]. However, several studies have found that age is not associated with self-perception of aging [58, 62], even when health conditions are taken into account [63].…”

“…Gender differences are also inconclusive. Some studies have found that men tend to have a more positive perception about their own aging than women [58, 64], while others have found opposite results [65], and still others have found no gender differences [49–52, 59]. Racial differences in self-perception of aging are well-documented, but such differences are largely due to cultural practices and norms [66].…”

“…Wealthier people are also likely to feel more excited and hopeful about their lives ahead [69]. However, some studies have found no differences by resources such as education [47, 70]; others have found that higher income and educational attainment are associated with less positive self-perceptions of aging because of relative losses perceived after retirement [47, 59, 70]. Access to other resources such as greater medical care tended to be associated with more positive perceptions about aging [61].…”