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- Title
Positive Portrayals of Old Age Do Not Always Have Positive Consequences.
- Authors
Fung, Helene H.; Tianyuan Li; Xin Zhang; Sit, Iny M. I.; Sheung-Tak Cheng; Isaacowitz, Derek M.
- Abstract
Objectives. The literature on "image of aging" suggests that exposure to positive portrayals of old age has positive downstream consequences for older adults. This study examined whether these positive consequences might have limits, such that they occurred for portrayals of old age that were positive, but not those that were extremely positive. Method. Younger and older adults were allowed to selectively view (Study 1) or were experimentally exposed to (Studies 2 and 3) portrayals of old age of different levels of positivity. Their attention (Study 1) and physiological responses (Study 2) toward the portrayals, as well as perception of personal aging (Study 1) and memory performance (Study 3) after the exposure, were assessed. Results. Findings from 3 studies suggested that older adults have a less negative perception of personal aging (Study 1) and a stronger calming physiological response (Study 2) when being exposed to portrayals of old age that were positive, but not extremely positive. Moreover, extremely positive portrayals lowered downstream memory performance (Study 3) and attracted less attention from older adults when they found these portrayals unrealistic (Study 1). Discussion. These findings pinpoint the conditions under which positive portrayals of old age may benefit older adults.
- Subjects
HONG Kong (China); AGE distribution; AGING; ANALYSIS of covariance; ANALYSIS of variance; ATTENTION; COGNITIVE testing; STATISTICAL correlation; ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY; EMOTIONS; EXPERIMENTAL design; EYE movements; FACIAL expression; HEALTH status indicators; INCOME; MEMORY; PHOTOGRAPHY; REFLEXOTHERAPY; RESEARCH funding; RESPIRATORY measurements; STATISTICAL sampling; SCALE analysis (Psychology); SEX distribution; VIDEO recording; EDUCATIONAL attainment; INDEPENDENT living; REPEATED measures design; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; ATTITUDES toward aging
- Publication
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences, 2015, Vol 70, Issue 6, p913
- ISSN
1079-5014
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/geronb/gbu061