Reimagine Aging: A Process-Based Intervention to Decrease Internalized Ageism

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Internalized ageism, where older adults adopt negative societal stereotypes about aging, can lead to detrimental health outcomes.
• Limited research exists on effective interventions to mitigate internalized ageism in older populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate the efficacy of a novel 6-week process-based intervention, Reimagine Aging, aimed at reducing internalized ageism.
• To explore the psychological mechanisms, including psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and perceived control, that mediate the intervention's effects.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 72 older adults (mean age 70.4 years) who participated in the 6-week Reimagine Aging program.
• Data were collected using questionnaires administered before, immediately after, and two months post-intervention to assess changes in perceptions and psychological factors.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in participants' self-perceptions of aging (η²=0.37, p<.001) and their perceptions of older adults (η²=0.27, p<.001), with large effect sizes.
• These positive changes were significantly mediated by increases in psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and perceived control.

Conclusions:

• The Reimagine Aging intervention shows initial promise as an effective strategy for reducing internalized ageism in older adults.
• The findings suggest that targeting psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and perceived control may be key components in interventions aimed at combating the negative health impacts of ageism.