Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Aging in Older Adults
Summary
Perceptions and attitudes toward aging in older adults encompass a broad array of beliefs, emotions and expectations that individuals hold about their own aging process and that of others. These attitudes range from positive views of wisdom and emotional resilience to negative stereotypes of decline and dependency. Research has shown that such perceptions influence physical health, cognitive function and psychological wellbeing, as well as social participation and care outcomes. Self-perceptions of aging, in particular, can determine health trajectories by shaping motivation for health-promoting behaviours and engagement with medical services. Ageist beliefs—whether held by society at large or internalised by individuals—are linked to poorer functional outcomes, increased risk of depression and heightened stress. Conversely, positive self-views of aging foster adaptive coping strategies and contribute to greater life satisfaction. Cross-cultural studies reveal that prevailing social norms, media representations and intergenerational contact patterns all play a role in constructing and perpetuating age-related attitudes. As population ageing accelerates globally, understanding the determinants and consequences of these perceptions is vital for designing interventions that promote healthy, active and equitable aging for older adults worldwide.
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Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Aging in Older Adults publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in perceptions and attitudes toward aging in older adults across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Ageism: Prejudice, stereotyping or discrimination directed at individuals based on their chronological age.
Self-directed ageism: Internalised negative beliefs about one’s own aging that adversely affect health and wellbeing.
Stereotype threat: The risk of confirming negative group stereotypes, leading to reduced performance on relevant tasks.
Subjective age: The age individuals feel or perceive themselves to be, often differing from their chronological age.
Multidimensional age: A conceptualisation of age that integrates chronological age with functional ability, social roles and cultural context.
References
- Breaking the links between ageism and health: An integrated perspective. Ageing Research Reviews (2024).
- The Social Construction of Age: Concepts and Measurement. Annual Review of Sociology (2023).
- Global reach of ageism on older persons’ health: A systematic review. PLOS ONE (2020).
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