Researchers find that negative and positive perceptions about aging greatly affect how well people age. If people focus on aging as a period of diminishment, they tend to have poorer health. People who seek getting older as a chance for more positive activity tend to fare much better health outcomes. The negative perception of aging is considered a hazard to public health and well-being because of its strong influence on outcomes for older people. Changing the public perception of aging to a more positive one is likely to lessen negative outcomes.
Key Takeaways:
- Unfortunately, negative stereotypes about aging abound, in the US, even among senior citizens themselves.
- Studies suggest that seniors who feel more positively towards aging have better community ties, financial well-being, physical well-being, even speed of mobility and clarity of handwriting.
- Interestingly, this positive attitude also was reflected in better cardiac health and recovery from cardiac occurrences, when they happened.
“In test after test, researchers are finding that if we think about getting older in terms of decline or disability, our health likely will suffer.”
Read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/to-age-well-change-how-you-feel-about-aging-1445220002
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