Changes in narratives about aging among older adults in an internalized ageism intervention

Exposure to ageism over a lifetime may be internalized in older adults and cause negative health outcomes. However, little research has sought to understand how to reduce internalized ageism. This study explored aging narratives among older adults prior to and following their engagement in a six-week 'Reimagine Aging' intervention. This intervention employed education and acceptance-and-commitment therapy (ACT) to reduce internalized ageism.

We utilized content analysis to understand shifts in the aging narratives of 75 older adults pre- and post-intervention. We employed inductive content analysis to identify categories at Time 1 and Time 2 and directed content analysis to evaluate within-participant changes in aging narratives.

The ways in which participants wrote about their aging selves appeared to be less influenced by internalized ageism post-intervention. Time 1 narratives focused on worries about the future and on-going challenges related to health, loss, and decline. Time 2 narratives shifted towards an emphasis on engagement in meaningful activities and adaptive coping.

Our previous research demonstrated that the Reimagine Aging intervention reduced internalized ageism. The current study adds to these findings, demonstrating qualitative shifts in how participants described their aging selves, replacing categories that focus on ageism and loss with positive and values-focused categories.