The Importance of Views of Aging in the Context of Medical Conditions

With increasing age, the experience of both chronic conditions and serious acute health events (e.g., stroke) becomes more likely. Consequently, most younger and older individuals consider aging primarily as a phase of life with increasing physical and cognitive decline. At the same time, the fact that aging is also associated with gains and growth is largely overlooked. This is of particular importance, because a number of studies have shown that views of aging play an important role for medical conditions and premature mortality in later life. This chapter reviews existing findings on the role of different views of aging for health in later life. It illustrates how self-perceptions of aging, which are shaped by societal thoughts (stereotypes) and feelings (prejudices) about aging and old age, can develop to have a substantial impact on individuals’ health. Moreover, the chapter describes physiological, behavioral, and psychological pathways by which views of aging can affect health outcomes and considers when and to what extent views of aging act as moderator and/or mediator for other factors influencing health. Finally, the chapter closes with recommendations for practice and future research, which should focus on the investigation of pathways by which different views of aging affect similar or different health outcomes.