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Attitudes to aging in midlife are related to health conditions and mood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 August 2014

Anna M. Thorpe ,
John F. Pearson ,
Philip J. Schluter ,
Janet K. Spittlehouse  and
Peter R. Joyce
Anna M. Thorpe*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
John F. Pearson
Affiliation:
Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
Philip J. Schluter
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand; and School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Janet K. Spittlehouse
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
Peter R. Joyce
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Anna Thorpe, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. Phone: +64-3-3786400; Fax: +64-3-3786540. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background:

Health is an important aspect of individuals’ lives as they age. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of sociodemographic factors, diagnosed chronic health conditions, and current depression with attitudes to aging in midlife.

Methods:

A cross-sectional baseline analysis was conducted on the first 300 participants from the Canterbury Health, Ageing and Life Course study in New Zealand, a stratified randomized community longitudinal study of adults recruited between 49 and 51 years. Attitudes were measured using the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ) and analyzed with a range of prevalent diagnosed chronic conditions, current depression, and sociodemographic variables.

Results:

Individuals perceived their physical aging more negatively after a diagnosis of hypertension, arthritis or asthma. Diagnosed lifetime depression and anxiety, and current depression, showed strong relationships with attitudes to aging across domains. After controlling for sociodemographic factors and current depression, individuals with diagnosed hypertension, arthritis, asthma, lifetime depression or anxiety continued to report significantly more negative attitudes to aging. Current depression showed the strongest associations with attitudes to aging and mediated relationships of health on attitudes to aging.

Conclusions:

Physical and mental health are related to attitudes to aging. Most chronic conditions examined are significantly associated with attitudes toward aging in the physical change domain. Diagnosed lifetime depression and anxiety, and current depression, are negatively related across attitudinal domains. Individuals can feel positive about aging while experiencing poorer health, but this is more difficult in the presence of low mood.

Keywords

attitudes to aging questionnaire (AAQ)chronic conditionsdepressionmidlife
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 26 , Special Issue 12: young onset dementia , December 2014 , pp. 2061 - 2071
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2014 

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