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I was born in 1950. That means I spent my 20s in the 70s, and now I get to spend my 70s in the 20s. I remember when rock was young. Susie and I had so much fun holding hands and skimming stones. I had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own. But the biggest kick I ever got…
Hold on – let me pause my smartphone (or lift the tone arm off the vinyl record) and ask you: What came to mind as you read that first paragraph? Did you think, “Typical older guy, just reminiscing about the past”? Or perhaps you thought, “I’ve always wanted to learn how to skim stones; maybe he can teach me”?
Regardless of your reaction, it reveals a stereotype – an implicit assumption about aging. It could be negative (older people are out of touch and stuck in the past) or positive (they have valuable wisdom and experiences to share).
We hold various stereotypes about older individuals and aging, which form the foundation of our beliefs about this stage of life. Surprisingly, these beliefs significantly impact our health and well-being as we age. And let’s face it, we all get old. (Just ask one of Keith Richards’ bandmates.)
Recently, I delved into the research of Yale professor Becca Levy, who studies psychosocial factors influencing older individuals’ cognitive and physical functioning and longevity. As a member of the aging baby boomer generation that has captured the attention of everyone from the U.S. Census Bureau to the Bellamy Brothers, I found her findings particularly compelling. Let’s explore a few of her studies together.
Age Stereotypes and Their Impact on Functioning
In one study, researchers assigned participants aged 60 and older from senior centers in the New Haven, CT area to four groups based on the type of test they would take (cognitive or physical) and the age stereotypes they encountered beforehand (negative or positive). The cognitive test assessed their ability to recall statements linked to specific photos, while the physical test measured how quickly they could sit down and stand up from a chair five times with their arms crossed.
Participants were primed with age-related words presented on a screen, designed to be perceived but not consciously recognized, similar to the Harvard Implicit Association Test. The results revealed that self-stereotypes create expectations that often become self-fulfilling prophecies, especially when stereotypes align with outcomes.
Self-Perceptions of Aging and Functional Health
In another study, Levy and her team analyzed data from a community survey of individuals aged 50 and older conducted over twenty years. Participants rated their functional health (whether they could work at a full-time job, do ordinary or heavy work around the house, walk half a mile, as well as up and down stairs, and go out to a movie, church, a meeting, or to visit friends or relatives) and their feelings about aging.
They responded to statements such as:
- Things keep getting worse as I get older.
- I have as much pep as I did last year.
- As you get older, you are less useful.
- I am as happy now as I was when I was younger.
- As I get older, things are (better, worse, or the same) as I thought they would be.
The study found that those with positive self-perceptions of aging in 1975 reported better functional health from 1977 to 1995, even when controlling for various factors like age, gender, and socioeconomic status. This suggests that how we think about aging in our younger years can significantly affect how we age.
Positive Stereotypes and Recovery from Disability
In another fascinating study, Levy’s team focused on participants aged 70 and older who were independent in basic daily activities when recruited. They asked these participants to list the first five words or phrases that came to mind when thinking of older people. The responses were classified according to their negativity. Participants were tracked over ten years to note any changes in their disability status (the ability to perform daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, transferring, or walking). The analysis revealed that older adults with positive age stereotypes were 44% more likely to fully recover from severe disability compared to those with negative stereotypes.
The Risk of Dementia and Positive Thinking
As someone in my 70s, the risk of developing dementia weighs heavily on my mind. One study by Dr. Levy and colleagues was particularly enlightening and reassuring. It drew on participants in a large longitudinal survey that assessed their self-perceptions of aging while also screening for cognitive status and genetic predispositions to Alzheimer’s disease.
The research team found that individuals who had a positive outlook on aging at the start of the study had more than a 40% lower risk of developing dementia over four years compared to those with negative beliefs about aging. Furthermore, that positive outlook helped offset the added risk associated with carrying a specific type of gene. This should offer hope and motivation for all of us as we navigate this inevitable journey.
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