Day-to-day experiences impact positive attitude towards ageing

It has been said that the more we have a positive attitude towards ageing, the better we will age. In other words, a positive attitude is associated with better self-rated health, less reactivity to stressors and better well-being.

But a new study says that people’s positive attitude is not as static as previously thought.

According to the study from North Carolina State University, day-to-day activities and experiences and one’s attitude can affect a person’s awareness of age-related change (AARC). This is turn affects an individual’s mood.

According to this study, when people who have a positive attitude towards ageing have a negative experience, it impacts them adversely and more significantly although they are less likely to report awareness of daily age-related losses.

For this study, 116 participants (61 per cent were women), between the ages of 60 and 90 years took a survey to establish baseline attitudes towards ageing (ATOA) and baseline AARC for losses and gains.

For the next eight days participants reported daily via an online diary. They kept a log of daily stressors such as having an argument and completed a daily evaluation of age-related experiences such as “I am slower in my thinking.” They also reported on how this affected them or changed their mood.

The study found that people’s AARC was reflected by their daily evaluation and significantly varied on a day-to-day basis.

People whose baseline attitude towards ageing was positive tended to report a more positive affect or mood.

But when they reported a loss, it had a larger impact on them that day.

According to this study, when people who have a positive attitude towards ageing have a negative experience, it impacts them adversely and more significantly although they are less likely to report awareness of daily age-related losses.

But it certainly makes them more vulnerable when they do occur. For example when these individuals feel they must limit their daily activities or others assume they need assistance due to their age, it takes a toll on the ageing individual.

Efforts made to reduce these daily fluctuations in AARC losses may improve the wellbeing of older adults like making efforts to help older adults remain active or reduce societal beliefs about ageing.

A positive attitude towards ageing is certainly helpful but what helps more is the reduction in age-related changes on a daily basis.

Source: The Gerontologist