Universität zu Köln

Kaspar, Roman ORCID: 0000-0002-5829-2363, Wahl, Hans-Werner ORCID: 0000-0003-0625-3239, Diehl, Manfred and Zank, Susanne (2022). Subjective Views of Aging in Very Old Age: Predictors of 2-Year Change in Gains and Losses. Psychol. Aging, 37 (4). S. 503 - 517. WASHINGTON: AMER PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC. ISSN 1939-1498

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Abstract

This study examined trajectories of awareness of age-related change (AARC; Diehl & Wahl, 2010) across 2 years in a large representative sample of very old adults. We also examined the predictive role of health, functional status, cognitive functioning, and engagement with life for AARC change. The initial sample comprised 1,863 individuals aged 80 years or older. Of the 1,612 individuals recontacted 2 years later, 912 took part in the follow-up. Measures included the AARC-Short Form, assessing perceived AARC Gains and AARC Losses. Measures of multimorbidity and functional health, a cognitive screening test, and indicators of engagement with life (e.g., leisure activity) were examined as predictors of AARC change, using semi-cross-lagged fixed effects modeling. Higher overall levels of AARC Gains were observed compared to AARC Losses for all but respondents aged 90 years or older. Intra-individual levels of AARC Gains decreased significantly over the 2-year period, whereas a significant increase was found for AARC Losses. AARC Losses across time were predicted by loss of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) independence, but not by change in multimorbidity, cognitive performance, or engagement with life. One indicator of engagement with life, reduced leisure activity, predicted smaller AARC Gains at wave 2. These results were robust in models controlling for potential reverse causation. These findings suggest that a significant increase in perceived AARC Losses appears to be an inherent characteristic of very old age. Very old age may be a stage in life in which changes in multimorbidity and cognitive performance no longer impact individuals' views on aging. Public Significance Statement The study's findings that even very old individuals report considerable perceived gains as part of their aging awareness is important for the societal perception of those in their fourth age. The balance between perceived gains and losses, however, becomes less favorable in the oldest old (e.g., age 90 and over). The particular combination of perceived gains and losses in very old age identified in this study suggests that retained activities of daily living (ADL) independence and involvement in leisure activities may be critical factors to aging successfully during this life stage.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Kaspar, Roman UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-5829-2363 UNSPECIFIED Wahl, Hans-Werner UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-0625-3239 UNSPECIFIED Diehl, Manfred UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Zank, Susanne UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-672567
DOI:	10.1037/pag0000684
Journal or Publication Title:	Psychol. Aging
Volume:	37
Number:	4
Page Range:	S. 503 - 517
Date:	2022
Publisher:	AMER PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC
Place of Publication:	WASHINGTON
ISSN:	1939-1498
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language SELF-PERCEPTIONS; LONGITUDINAL FINDINGS; HEALTH; LIFE; AWARENESS; DEMTECT; PEOPLE; ADULTS; QUESTIONNAIRE; PSYCHOLOGY Multiple languages Gerontology; Psychology, Developmental Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/67256