Differences in self-perceptions of aging across the adult lifespan: The sample case of awareness of age-related gains and losses.

Abstract

Rooted in the premises of lifespan developmental theory, the concept of awareness of age-related change (AARC) posits that growing older comes with both experiences of gains and losses across different behavioral domains. However, little is known about how age-related change is perceived across the entire adult lifespan, provided that respective measures can be validly compared. Further, few studies have adopted an approach that examines gains and losses simultaneously to study a potential shift in the ratio of perceived age-related gains and losses from adolescence to advanced old age. Using cross-sectional data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, this study tested the measurement invariance of the 10-item AARC short form and examined age differences in the awareness of age-related changes across 1,612 participants aged 16–93 years. First, partial measurement invariance of the AARC-Gains and AARC-Losses scales was established, allowing for valid group comparisons across young adulthood, midlife, and old age. Second, results indicated that people experience more AARC-Gains than AARC-Losses throughout the adult lifespan. However, older adults exhibited an increasingly less favorable gains-to-losses ratio, primarily driven by more loss experiences. Gain experiences were mostly stable across age groups. Third, differences in levels of AARC were related to individuals’ background characteristics relevant at the respective time of life, such as education (early adulthood), employment (midlife), and social resources (old age). These results highlight the utility of considering a broad age range when examining the nature and correlates of age differences in perceived age-related gains and losses.

Navigating Life’s Twists and Turns: Characteristics of Life Events Across Adulthood

“…Older adults might experience greater strain related to life events than their younger counterparts. As reported above, older adults tend to encounter a greater number of developmental losses; these losses can contribute to feelings of strain (Diehl & Wahl, 2010;Kaspar et al, 2023). Moreover, life events that occur in later life may carry added complexities, such as dealing with health-related issues or navigating bereavement, which usually generate higher levels of strain (Lachman et al, 2011).…”

“…The valence associated with life events tends to differ across age groups. In general, older adults tend to experience more developmental losses, which involve the decline or reduction of certain skills, resources, or opportunities that were previously available to them (Kaspar et al, 2023). Applied to the context of life events, this suggests that older adults might experience more negative life events, indicative of increasing developmental losses.…”