Optimizing aging: A call for a new narrative.

Abstract

Decades of research have shown that biological and psychosocial aging are not as predetermined as had been thought for a long time. Yet, despite a large and growing evidence base, most individuals still hold negative views of aging that keep them from optimizing their chances for healthy and productive aging. Given this general background, this article has three major objectives: (a) to show that the 3 big misconceptions at the heart of the public's negative views of aging can be refuted based on scientific evidence; (b) to illustrate that changing individuals' views of aging calls for the development of a new narrative on aging, one that incorporates the increasing diversity of the aging population; and (c) to discuss how psychologists can contribute to creating this new narrative on aging. We argue that growing old(er) in the United States is not the same old business anymore and that psychologists are uniquely positioned to contribute to the social and cultural transformation that population aging and increasing diversity in the U.S. society require. Public Significance StatementThis article shows that the general public's negative views of aging reflect three big misconceptions that are not supported by scientific evidence. To change the general public's views of aging will require changing individuals' views of aging and developing a new societal narrative on aging-a narrative that incorporates the increasing diversity of the general population. Psychologists have a great deal to contribute to this long-term effort.

Differences In Awareness of Positive And Negative Age-Related Changes Account For Variability In Health Outcomes

“…Steverink et al, 2001). Our ndings are, however, in contrast to existing literature on age stereotypes reporting that, for example, the majority of individuals have negative attitudes toward ageing (Levy, 2017) and that the general public usually holds negative views of ageing, including a number of misconceptions about the aging process (Diehl et al, 2020). Thus, the ndings of the present study emphasise that individuals view their own ageing more positively than what is known from studies on age stereotypes.…”

Age-related change in self-perceptions of aging: Longitudinal trajectories and predictors of change.

“…Furthermore, we examined time-invariant, context-specific and time-varying, person-specific predictors of the observed age-related changes. Investigation of such predictors of age-related changes in SPA is important, because SPA become increasingly self-relevant from midlife to early old age (Diehl & Wahl, 2010; Infurna et al, 2020; Levy, 2009) and influence how adults respond to the challenges of growing old(er) (Diehl et al, 2020; Kornadt, Kessler, et al, 2019).…”

Enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) y edadismo: revisión narrativa de la literatura

“…Conviene volver a destacar que durante la pandemia los adultos mayores han aportado valiosas contribuciones a la sociedad 51 . Fomentar el contacto entre adultos mayores y jóvenes debe ayudar a superar las tensiones intergeneracionales 24 , porque en momentos de escasos recursos los conflictos intergrupales surgen fácilmente 43 .…”