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Self-perceptions of aging (SPA) are an important resource for health in later life. A large body of research has demonstrated that more positive SPA are beneficial for various health-related outcomes, such as self-rated, functional, physical and mental health, as well as for health behaviors. However, there are further, ongoing issues in SPA research addressed in the present dissertation. At first, recent findings point out that SPA are domain-specific and that individuals hold both positive and negative SPA. However, international studies have shown that negative SPA predominate. Second, given the detrimental effects of having more negative SPA, the promotion of more positive SPA for better health in older age seems warranted. And third, given low activity levels among older adults, research calls for taking a lifespan perspective in the promotion of physical activity (PA) for older adults. The aim of the present thesis was to address these issues, by having a closer look at the multidimensional nature of SPA, the changeability of SPA, and a lifespan perspective in the promotion of PA among older adults. In study 1 it was investigated whether are they positive or negative SPA that dominate among the German population, and whether SPA has changed in Germany over the last two decades. Using representative data for Germany (n = 4,295), results showed that adults in Germany aged 40 years and older hold both positive, gain-related SPA and negative, loss-related SPA. In particular, older adults and those with lower education are groups vulnerable to holding less gain-related and more loss-related SPA. Furthermore, cohort comparisons between four subsequent measurement waves (n = 15,558) suggested that SPA could change over an 18-year period and become more positive over time—mainly in older age. Study 2 aimed at investigating whether it is possible to improve SPA among older adults via directly addressing them in an intervention. Study 2 tested the effectiveness of a randomized controlled trial intervention to promote more positive SPA among eighty-four community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older. The SPA intervention was embedded in a 12-week exercise program. Results showed an improvement of participants’ SPA in the intervention group in terms of holding more gain-related and less loss-related SPA after the program period. In the control group, participants’ SPA did not change. Furthermore, all participants profited from their participation in the exercise program in terms of better functional health at follow-up, but only participants in the intervention group showed an increase in mental health. The aim of study 3 was to investigate the domain-specific relationship between SPA and PA. Furthermore, it was investigated whether this relationship depended on a person’s perceived residual lifetime. Results using longitudinally data (n = 2,367) demonstrated that there was a domain-specific relationship between the gain-related domain and moderate kinds of PA and the loss-related domain and a more vigorous kind of PA. Furthermore, it was found that the relationship between SPA and PA depended on perceived residual lifetime. The findings of this thesis showed that SPA are complex and multidimensional. This supports a domain-specific investigation of SPA, their changes, and the relationship they have with outcomes. Furthermore, it was shown that SPA are changeable at the individual level via an intervention as well as at the societal level over decades. In addition, from a lifespan perspective, SPA have emerged as a promising approach in the promotion of PA among older adults, as well as the consideration of the perceived residual lifetime. This knowledge could now be implemented in health-promotion interventions for older adults for maintaining good health, autonomy, and quality of life in older age and may help older adults to realize their potentials and opportunities in an aging society.
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