VIEWS ON AGING: NEW PERSPECTIVES FOR THEORY AND RESEARCH

Over the past 20 years, research on views on aging has substantiated their importance for successful development and sustained quality of life over the full length of the life span. However, a deep understanding of the origins of views on aging and the underlying processes of their lifespan development and manifestation is lacking. Since 2017, the scientific network “Images of Aging” funded by the German Research Foundation (http://www.health.uni-konstanz.de/images-of-aging) assembles national and international renowned experts in the field. The network engages in empirical clarifications on both the distinctness and validity of the construct (contribution of Klusmann et al.) as well as in critically reviewing terminology and measures of views on aging (contribution of Notthoff et al.). The network aims to help clarifying the dynamic interplay of determinants and outcomes in the context of health (contribution of Wolff et al.) as well as disentangling intra- and intergenerational stereotypic perceptions (contribution of Kornadt et al.). Both of these are understudied issues with highly practical implications for two of the largest demographic challenges: shaping the coexistence of generations as well as providing adequate health care supply. Integrating both pertinent theoretical approaches and empirical findings the network regards views on aging under a lifespan perspective. Recently, it suggested three core principles of views on aging regarding lifelong bio-psycho-social development, their multidimensional nature, and their impact across life. These considerations provide a background for an integrative discussion of the symposium’s contributions

How to: 6 Impulse für vielfältigere Altersbilder

Angestoßen vom wissenschaftlichen Netzwerk „Altersbilder“ haben wir – Wissenschaftler:innen, Praktiker:innen und Stake- holder:innen – diese Impulse für vielfältige Altersbilder in einem Workshop im Dezember 2022 entwickelt. Wir verstehen sie als Selbstverpflichtung und rufen dazu auf, sich anzuschließen und die Impulse in Denken, Entscheiden und Handeln zu überführen

Does Adherence Moderate the Effect of Physical or Mental Training on Episodic Memory in Older Women?

Objective: The aim was to investigate the overall amount of time spent on physical or mental activity training units (i.e., adherence) as a predictor of episodic memory performance in older healthy women. Methods: Women (N = 171, aged 70 -93 years) took part in a 6-month randomized controlled trial (physical activity or computer training, 3 times weekly). Pre-and post-intervention episodic memory and adherence were assessed. Adherence covers the objectively measured frequency of training participation including travel time to and from course sites. Results: Within the physical exercise group, adherence (β = .19, p = .03) had positive effects on cognitive performance. In the computer group, an interaction between adherence and pre-intervention episodic memory (β = −.17, p = .056) indicated improvement for low-ability women. Conclusions: Adhering to a stimulating mental or physical activity intervention is a prerequisite for healthy older women to maintain or slightly improve their episodic memory performance. Travel activity should be taken into account to cover an overall stimulation. Adherence to mental activity training indicates a moderating effect of mental activity training on episodic memory. Predominantly low-ability women improve their episodic memory performance. In contrast, adherence to physical activity training is positively associated with cognitive performance, regardless of pre-intervention episodic memory performance

SUBJECTIVE AGING: SOMETHING UNIQUE OR JUST ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF GENERAL SELF-BELIEFS?

Using data from the German Ageing Survey (adults aged 40‒85), this study tested the convergent and discriminant validity of subjective aging measures by comparing three different measures of subjective aging with one another and relating them to established measures of general self-beliefs (optimism, self-efficacy, subjective health) and subjective well-being (depression, affect). Correlations between subjective aging measures ranged from ‒.61 (amongst general self-perceptions of aging measures) to ‒.09, with subjective age being least related to the other measures. The highest overlap was observed between optimism and global self-perceptions of aging (.69) and it was for these global self-perceptions that the highest amount of variance could be explained by correlates in a regression analysis (R-square=.55). In contrast, only 10% of variance could be explained for subjective age. Our results underline the merit of taking the multidimensional nature of subjective aging into account since global measures appear less distinct from general personality traits

Körperliche und geistige Aktivierung

Der demographische Wandel bedingt, dass die Erforschung des menschlichen Alternsprozesses immer bedeutsamer wird und sich insbesondere die Frage nach einem erfolgreichen Altern stellt. Zu hoher Lebensqualität älterer Menschen gehört vor allem auch der Erhalt der geistigen Fitness, die wiederum Autonomie, Selbstvertrauen und Selbstständigkeit sichert. Körperliche und geistige Aktivierung haben sich als Erfolg versprechende Instrumente zur Förderung kognitiver Fitness erwiesen. Das Programm Berlin bleibt fit integriert aktuelle Forschungserkenntnisse und liefert mit einem optimierten methodischen Design Belege für die Wirksamkeit einer umweltbezogenen Anreicherung ("Enrichment") im körperlichen oder geistigen Bereich. Es stellt sich die Aufgabe, die Erkenntnisse sinnvoll auf eine breitere empirische und gesellschaftliche Basis zu stellen

Current directions in views on aging. Editorial for the Special Section.

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Current directions in views on ageing

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