Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19183193

Inderpreet Sandhu and Amarpreet Kaur Dhaliwal (Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)

Attitudes towards ageing include the opinions, views, stereotypes and mindsets an individual has toward the process of ageing. Research shows that negative attitudes are more prevalent than positive ones and can strongly influence life experiences. Older women may be particularly vulnerable due to the cumulative social experiences they have faced across the lifespan. In addition to age-related stereotypes, women often encounter gender-based discrimination, and in later life these forms of bias can intersect. Therefore, attitudes may have significant impact on multiple areas of older women’s lives. The current study seeks to explore how attitudes towards ageing can influence well-being and life satisfaction among older women. A sample of 50 female participants, between the ages of 65 and 80 years (Mean = 72.82), participated in this study, whose scores on Attitude to Ageing Questionnaire (Laidlaw et al., 2007), the PERMA Profiler (Butler & Kern, 2016), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985) were obtained. The data has been analysed using correlation and regression analyses. Positive perception of physical change and psychological growth were positively and significantly correlated with facets of well-being (range of r = .286 – .417), but the association between psychosocial loss and well-being was not found to be significant among this sample. Positive perception of physical change significantly predicted well-being among older women. This research highlights the interaction between attitudes, well-being, and life satisfaction among older adult women. This study has a wide range of implications for older adults and health professionals for the geriatric population.