Positive illusions and mental and physical health in later life

Abstract

There are three competing conceptions concerning the relationship between positive illusions and mental health: the 'traditional' mental health model, according to which an accurate perception of the self and the world is a cornerstone of psychological well-adjustment; Taylor and Brown's Social Psychological Model on mental health, which assumes that positive illusions promote good mental health; and Baumeister's Optimal Margin Theory, which states that too much accuracy is harmful to mental health, as are exaggerated illusions. These three models were evaluated in the elderly (n = 857 retirees ages 60-95) using the youthful bias, which is the illusion of being younger than one's real age. As a whole, the Social Psychological Model obtained the strongest support. Retirees who harboured an exaggerated youthful bias (more than 15 years) reported more satisfaction with leisure time, higher self-esteem, better perceived health, and less boredom proneness than those who felt as old as they were or who, except for perceived health, entertained a moderate youthful bias (between 1 and 15 years).

Hope and Adaptation to Old Age: Their Relationship with Individual-Demographic Factors

“…The process of adaptation may take the form of habituation, that is, of an automatic passive biological process. However, there are also effective coping strategies, 'mature defence' mechanisms, and 'positive illusions', which have been consistently shown to be related to high subjective well-being and better adaptation to ongoing adult-life changing conditions optimism, through which they make the most of negative situations by adopting an exaggerated positive perspective (Gana et al, 2004;Taylor and Brown, 1994;Taylor et al, 2000).…”

The age and subjective well-being paradox revisited:A multidimensional perspective

“…Research shows, for example, that people are better able to regulate their experiences and emotions as they get older (20). Furthermore, by comparing oneself to others of their same age groups, and preferably to those who are worse off, and by reducing goals and needs, older people seem to have less severe and more short-lived emotional reactions to detrimental life events or life conditions (7,44,45). Whether interpreted as a "gain" or simply as "resignation" (46), reductions in aspirations and comparison standards appear adaptive to sustain a sense of well-being in later life.…”

Origins of Ageism at the Individual Level

“…Although it may be claimed that this tendency can emerge from the internalization of negative age stereotypes, a growing body of research indicates that a younger subjective age is positively associated with diverse subjective and objective outcomes such as improved physical and cognitive functioning, health, psychological wellbeing, and longevity (e.g., Gana et al 2004;Kotter-Grühn et al 2009;Stephan et al 2014;Stephan et al 2013). Hence, this strategy has positive outcomes and is highly desirable.…”