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Updated: Jun 5, 2025
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Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
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More Positive Attitudes to Aging are Associated with Lower Subjective Cognitive Decline: Moderating Roles of
Renata Komalasari1,2,3, Nikki L Hill1, Diane Berish1
1Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
Summary
Older adults with positive aging attitudes experienced less subjective cognitive decline (SCD). However, negative attitudes toward aging
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Aging Research
- Psychology of Aging
Background:
- Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a growing concern in aging populations.
- Understanding factors influencing SCD is crucial for healthy aging.
- Attitudes towards aging may play a role in cognitive health perceptions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between older adults' attitudes toward aging and their subjective cognitive decline.
- To investigate the moderating roles of positive affect and depressive symptoms in this association.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional online survey of 339 U.S. adults aged 65 and older without dementia diagnoses.
- Used the Everyday Cognition scale for SCD and the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire.
- Poisson regression analysis to assess associations and moderation effects.
Main Results:
- Overall aging attitudes, attitudes to physical change, and psychosocial loss were linked to SCD.
- Positive attitudes toward physical change correlated with lower SCD.
- Negative attitudes toward psychosocial loss correlated with higher SCD.
- The link between positive physical change attitudes and lower SCD was stronger with lower positive mood and higher depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Attitudes toward physical changes and psychosocial aspects of aging are associated with subjective cognitive decline in older adults.
- Mental health status (positive affect, depressive symptoms) can influence the relationship between aging attitudes and perceived cognitive function.
- Interventions promoting positive aging attitudes may support cognitive health perception in older age.
Keywords:
affective well-beingaging attitudesdementia exposuredepressive symptomspositive affectsubjective cognitionsubjective cognitive declineMore Related Videos
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