Positive and Negative Aging Perceptions as Predictors of the Longitudinal Trajectory of Perceived Stress

By Mohsen Joshanloo

Individuals may have positive and negative beliefs about their own aging. Those who have positive beliefs think that aging is a time of growth and learning and that they have some control over how aging affects their lives. For example, these people believe that wisdom comes with age or that their quality of life in older adulthood depends on them. In contrast, negative beliefs may include the idea that aging leads to a loss of independence or a lack of control over one's life. For example, some people believe that aging makes life more difficult or depressing or that the ability to cope with everyday problems decreases with age. Previous research has shown that positive beliefs about aging are associated with better outcomes in late adulthood, such as higher life satisfaction and better physical health, while negative beliefs are associated with worse outcomes, such as depression. Despite the growing interest in researching beliefs about aging, relatively little attention has been paid to perceived stress in this area. Previous studies have demonstrated the detrimental effects of chronic stress on physical health, energy levels, and subjective well-being in older adults. Therefore, stress is a critical factor in assessing quality of life in old age and deserves more attention. In this study, I aimed to examine changes in stress levels over a period of approximately eight years and explore the relationship between beliefs about aging and stress.

I used Data from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA), which included an adult sample with a mean age of about 62 years at baseline. The study collected data from this group at four different points between 2009 and 2016. Beliefs about one’s own aging were assessed at baseline, while stress was assessed at all four time points.

In terms of the longitudinal trajectory of perceived stress, the results of the study suggest that there is no consistent pattern of increase or decrease in stress among individuals in the whole sample. At the beginning of the study, participants exhibited varying levels of stress, and over time, stress levels fluctuated, with some individuals experiencing an increase in stress while others experienced no change or a decrease in their stress levels. The primary goal of the study was to examine the relationship between perceptions of aging and stress. This was examined in two ways. First, the relationship between perceptions of aging and stress at baseline was examined. Results showed that negative beliefs about aging were positively associated with stress, while positive beliefs about aging were negatively associated with stress. Thus, individuals who view their own aging negatively are more likely to report higher levels of stress. Second, I examined whether beliefs about aging at baseline could predict the trajectory of stress over time. Here, the results were somewhat inconclusive and mixed, and I concluded that beliefs about aging are not a robust predictor of future changes in stress over the long term. However, this finding should be interpreted in light of the major limitation of the study, which was that perceptions of aging were measured only at baseline and not throughout the course of the study. Tracking changes in self-perceptions of aging over time may provide better predictive power for the long-term development of stress.

In summary, this study shows that higher levels of stress are associated with the presence of negative beliefs and the absence of positive beliefs about one's own aging. As we continue to explore the complexities of stress in older adults, it is important to investigate the influence of beliefs about aging as a critical factor. Going forward, researchers should explore the development of interventions aimed at promoting positive beliefs about aging and reducing negative beliefs. By equipping older adults with optimal mindsets, we may help them face the unique challenges of their later years with greater resilience and confidence.

Article Details
Positive and Negative Aging Perceptions as Predictors of the Longitudinal Trajectory of Perceived Stress
Mohsen Joshanloo
First published online July 20, 2021
DOI: 10.1177/07334648211031047
Journal of Applied Gerontology

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