ABSTRACT

 .Given ageism’s negative impacts on older adults, the theoretical model for awareness of age-related change (AARC) hypothesized that experiencing ageism may mediate the relationship of cognitive functioning to AARC. We tested this hypothesis and alternatively proposed that cognitive functioning mediated the relationship of ageism to AARC. Analyses were conducted using measures of memory and inductive reasoning for 215 older adults (66–90 years) recruited online. Significant direct effects of ageism, memory, and inductive reasoning and significant mediated effects were found in both models, with more support for cognition mediating the relationship between ageism and AARC than for ageism mediating the relationship between cognitive functioning and AARC. This study added to the literature by empirically investigating theoretically proposed antecedents of AARC. Policymakers should address ageism to support healthy aging. Findings may assist therapists working to help older adults gain insights regarding how ageism impacts cognitive functioning and awareness of age-related changes.

摘要

 鉴于年龄歧视对老年人的负面影响，年龄相关变化意识 (AARC) 的理论模型假设，经历年龄歧视可能会调节认知功能与 AARC 的关系。我们检验了这一假设，并提出认知功能介导了年龄歧视与 AARC 的关系。通过对在线招募的 215 名老年人（66-90 岁）进行记忆和归纳推理测量进行分析。在这两个模型中都发现了年龄歧视、记忆和归纳推理的显着直接影响以及显着的中介效应，与年龄歧视介导认知功能和 AARC 之间的关系相比，更支持认知介导年龄歧视和 AARC 之间的关系。这项研究通过实证调查理论上提出的 AARC 前因来补充文献。政策制定者应解决年龄歧视问题，以支持健康老龄化。研究结果可能有助于治疗师帮助老年人深入了解年龄歧视如何影响认知功能和与年龄相关的变化的意识。