negative age stereotypes; perceived age discrimination; self-perceptions of aging; subjective age; self-esteem
Abstract :
[en] Objectives: Although numerous studies have documented that negative age stereotypes and perceived age discrimination are related to older adults’ lower well-being, few studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying these relationships. In this study, we tested whether self-perceptions of aging and subjective age would help to account for the relation between stereotypes and discrimination and self-esteem. According to the internalization hypothesis, we expected that the effects of negative age stereotypes and greater perceived age discrimination would be driven by more negative self-perceptions of aging and older subjective age.
Method: A total of 151 older adults completed questions assessing their endorsement of negative age stereotypes, perceived age discrimination, self-perceptions of aging, subjective age, and self-esteem. Relationships among these variables were assessed using serial mediation analyses.
Results: Consistent with the internalization hypothesis, negative age stereotypes and perceived age discrimination indirectly predicted older subjective age and lower self-esteem through worsening self-perceptions of aging. However, we did not find a direct effect of negative age stereotypes or perceived discrimination on subjective age, nor an indirect effect of negative age stereotypes and perceived age discrimination on self-esteem through subjective age.
Conclusion: These results support the internalization hypothesis: among older adults, holding more negative age stereotypes and perceiving more age discrimination is associated with feeling older and with lower self-esteem through worsened perceptions of one’s own aging. Given the central role of self-perceptions of aging, these findings highlight the importance of promoting more positive self-perceptions in order to maintain or increase older adults’ well-being.
Disciplines :
Treatment & clinical psychology
Author, co-author :
Marquet, Manon ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Psychologie > Psychologie de la sénescence et du vieillissement
Chasteen, Alison L
Plaks, Jason E
Balasubramaniam, Laksmiina
Language :
English
Title :
Understanding the mechanisms underlying the effects of negative age stereotypes and perceived age discrimination on older adults’ well-being
Publication date :
2019
Journal title :
Aging and Mental Health
ISSN :
1360-7863
eISSN :
1364-6915
Publisher :
Carfax Publishers, United Kingdom
Volume :
23
Issue :
12
Pages :
1666-1673
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE] NSERC - Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council [CA] CRSH - Conseil de Recherches en Sciences Humaines [CA]
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