Characteristics of older adults with positive attitudes toward aging

Self-perception of aging predicts mortality, with older adults possessing positive attitudes toward aging living an average of 7.5 years longer than their peers (Levey, Slade, Kunkel, & Kasl, 2002). To examine additional facets of attitudes toward aging, the present study examined the extent to which perceptions of internal control of health, trust in primary care physician, well-being, and interest in attending health promotion programs predict positive attitudes toward aging. One hundred and sixty-three older adults (60+) completed scales assessing health locus of control (Bundek et al., 1993), trust in physician (Anderson & Dedrick, 1990), well-being (World Health Organization, 1998), attitudes toward aging (Laidlaw et al., 2007), interest in attending health promotion programs, self-perceived health (Ware et al., 2002), chronic illness (Jang, Poon, Kim, & Shin, 2004), and age. Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted. The control variables (age, self-perceived health, and chronic illness) accounted for 37% of the variability in attitudes toward physical change, F(3,138)=28.75, p<.001; the psychological variables explained an additional 11%, F(4,134)=7.59, p<.001. Internal control of health, higher perceptions of well-being, more interest in health promotion programs, higher perceptions of health, and younger age were significant predictors of positive attitudes toward physical change, ps<.05. The regression of older adults' attitudes toward psychological growth as a result of aging showed well-being and self-perceived health were significant predictors of this aspect of attitudes toward aging, ps<.05. Results suggest that programs targeting the health of older adults may benefit from increasing perceptions of control over health and expanding health promotion programs.