More Positive Attitudes to Aging are Associated with Lower Subjective Cognitive Decline: Moderating Roles of Affective Well-Being

Abstract

This study cross-sectionally examined associations between older adults’ aging attitudes and subjective cognitive decline as well as moderating effects of current positive affect and depressive symptoms. Data were collected via an online survey among U.S. adults 65+ ( N = 339, 55.5% female, M age = 71.7, SD ± 4.78) with no self-reported diagnosis of dementia. SCD was measured with the Everyday Cognition scale; attitudes to physical change, psychological growth, and psychosocial loss in aging were measured with the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire. A Poisson regression analysis showed that overall aging attitudes, attitudes to physical change, and psychosocial loss were associated with SCD, but attitudes to psychosocial growth were not. More positive attitudes to physical change were associated with lower SCD; more negative attitudes to psychosocial loss were associated with higher SCD. The association between more positive attitudes to physical change in aging and lower SCD was accentuated with lower current positive mood and higher current depressive symptoms.

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