Does Awareness of Aging Matter? The Moderating Function of Awareness of Age-Related Change on the Relationships Between COVID-19 Disruption, Perceived Stress, and Affect

Abstract

Objectives How people reflect on their own age may influence their well-being in the face of COVID-19 related disruptions. Subjective aging was operationalised in terms of one’s awareness of age-related change (AARC), specifically, the gains and losses associated with aging. We developed a measure assessing disruptions to daily life associated with the COVID-19 pandemic across three dimensions (i.e., Social and Lifestyle Disruption, Work and Health Disruption and Others Contracting COVID-19). We hypothesised that COVID-19 disruption would be positively associated with both AARC-losses and AARC-gains. Greater COVID-19 disruption would also be associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes (higher perceived stress and negative affect (NA) and lower positive affect (PA)) and these associations would be stronger for those reporting greater AARC-losses and weaker for those reporting greater AARC-gains. Method Cross-sectional questionnaire data was collected from 263 participants from the United States (aged 40 to 83; mean age: 62.88 years, SD = 9.00; 56.3% females). Results After controlling for age, gender, education, employment, socio-economic status, and physical functioning, greater Work and Health Disruption was associated with greater AARC-losses. Greater Social and Lifestyle Disruption was associated with both greater AARC-gains and AARC-losses. Moderation effects showed an exacerbating effect of AARC-losses on NA in the face of Work and Health Disruption and a protective effect of AARC-gains on PA in the context of Social and Lifestyle Disruption. Discussion We extend research detailing antecedents of AARC and highlight the need for longitudinal research that considers the everchanging nature of the pandemic.