Reducing Negative Aging Stereotypes via Educational Intervention in Older People: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Anti-ageism interventions traditionally target younger individuals. We analyzed the effect of an educational intervention that combined an infusion of aging content with videos to reduce negative stereotypes toward aging in a randomized controlled study of 56 community-dwelling older adults. The experimental group received a single one-hour information session and video viewing on ageism; the control group viewed 1 hour of videos unrelated to ageism. Repeated-measures ANOVA indicated that the experimental group reported a significantly reduced Negative Stereotypes Toward Aging Questionnaire (CENVE) total score along with an independent measure of the character-personality factor in this questionnaire 1 week and 1 month after the intervention compared to baseline. The control group showed no changes. This work reports for the first time that a one-hour information session about aging combined with video viewing on ageism can efficiently reduce negative stereotypes of aging in older people in the short and medium term.

Relationship between negative stereotypes toward aging and multidimensional variables in older people living in two different social environments.

BACKGROUND: Ageism is studied extensively in community-dwelling older adults, but remains poorly understood in institutionalized older adults. Here, we compared the physical, psychological, and social variables associated with self-reported age-based biases in community-dwelling older adults and in those living in nursing homes (NHs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Participants (n = 272) in this descriptive cross-sectional study lived in NHs (n = 126) or in their homes (n = 146), were 60 years or older, and had no cognitive or serious functional impairments. Those in NHs had been institutionalized for at least six months. The dependent variable was negative stereotypes toward aging (CENVE). We developed generalized linear models (GLMs) by place of residence and sex following the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment´s (CGA) methodology. RESULTS: There is a statistically significant relationship between negative stereotypes of aging and different multidimensional variables. These variables differ between institutionalized and non-institutionalized adults and between men and women. While some variables are non-modifiable (age and sex) others are potentially modifiable (educational level, participation in activities, length of NH stay, hand strength, autonomy, and depression). CONCLUSIONS: This study compared, for the first time, levels of ageism in older people living in two different social environments. Because most of the significant variables are modifiable in both environments, our results provide a framework to combat this type of discrimination. Promising strategies include anti-ageism policies and laws, educational interventions, and increased intergenerational contact.

Preliminary validation of the Perceived Locus of Causality scale for academic motivation in the context of university studies (PLOC-U).

BACKGROUND: Research has shown that self-determination theory can be useful in the study of motivation in sport and other forms of physical activity. The Perceived Locus of Causality (PLOC) scale was originally designed to study both. AIM: The current research presents and validates the new PLOC-U scale to measure academic motivation in the university context. We tested levels of self-determination before and after academic examinations. Also, we analysed degree of internalization of extrinsic motivation in students' practical activities. SAMPLE: Two hundred and eighty-seven Spanish university students participated in the study. METHOD: Data were collected at two time points to check the reliability and stability of PLOC-U by a test-retest procedure. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the PLOC-U. Also convergent validity was tested against the Academic Motivation Scale (EME-E). RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis showed optimum fit and good reliability of PLOC-U. It also presented excellent convergent validity with the EME-E and good stability over time. Our findings did not show any significant correlation between self-determination and expected results before academic examinations, but it did so afterwards, revealing greater regulation by and integration of extrinsic motivation. The high score obtained for extrinsic motivation points to a greater regulation associated with an external contingency (rewards in the practical coursework). CONCLUSIONS: PLOC-U is a good instrument for the measurement of academic motivation and provides a new tool to analyse self-determination among university students.

Datos normativos para respuestas a categorías semánticas en castellano en adultos jóvenes y mayores / Normative data for responses to Spanish semantic categories in younger and older adults

Para analizar procesos cognitivos como la atención, la memoria y el lenguaje, es conveniente disponer de datos normativos de categorías semánticas. Sin embargo, existe poca investigación relacionada con la normalización de categorías en castellano en personas mayores, así como con las diferencias asociadas al proceso de envejecimiento en la producción de respuestas categoriales. El objetivo principal de este estudio consistió en recopilar en el mismo contexto temporal y sociocultural respuestas a 20 categorías semánticas en 285 adultos jóvenes y 272 personas mayores, quienes generaron el mayor número posible de respuestas en 30 segundos por categoría. Se calculó, para cada categoría, la frecuencia total y la media de producción de respuestas, el número de ejemplares diferentes producidos y el índice de semejanza entre las respuestas. Además, para cada ejemplar producido, se calculó para la muestra total y para cada grupo de edad el número de veces que se produjo cada ejemplar en total así como el primero de su categoría, y la medida en que ese ejemplar fue producido entre los primeros de su categoría. En la media de producción se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los adultos jóvenes y mayores en 15 categorías, con los jóvenes con una media superior en 11 categorías y las personas mayores en 4 categorías, diferencias que ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de utilizar datos normativos adecuados a cada grupo de edad. Este conjunto de normas categoriales está accesible en formato electrónico en la página de la revista y constituye un instrumento de trabajo válido para investigadores de distintos ámbitos como la psicología, la lingüística y la neuropsicología (AU)

In order to analyze cognitive processes like attention, memory or language, normative data for semantic categories is convenient. However, there is little research on normalization of Spanish categories in older adults or on differences related to aging process in the production of Spanish categorical responses. The principal aim of this study was to obtain in the same temporal, social and cultural context, the responses producedto 20 semantic categories by 285 younger and 272 older adults, who generated as many responses as they could within 30 seconds per category. For each category, the total frequency and the mean number of responses produced, as well as the number of different exemplars and the similarity index of responses given, was calculated. In addition, for each exemplar produced, the total frequency as well as the number of times it was given first in its category was calculated for the entire sample and separately for younger and older adults. There were age related differences in the mean production of 15 categories, with higher means for younger adults in 11 categories, and higher means for older adults in 4 categories, differences that show that normative data appropriate to each age-group is needed. These category-norms are available at the journal web site and might constitute a valid tool for researchersin various fields such as psychology, linguistics, andneuropsychology (AU)

Factores psicológicos y salud asociados con un nuevo perfil de jubilados / Psychological factors and health associated with a new profile of retirees

Conforme a los cambios sociales y económicos, la tipología y definición del jubilado va siendo modificada en las últimas décadas. Hoy por hoy no existe un amplio consenso para definir a la persona jubilada como hasta ahora tradicionalmente se había hecho. Así, en diferentes estudios aparecen nuevos términos: nuevo perfil de jubilados (Canes y García, 1989), nueva vejez (Bazo, 1992; 1996; 2000) y nuevos jubilados (De Zayas, 1996). El objetivo principal de esta investigación ha sido analizar el grado de interacción que pudieran tener determinadas variables sociales, psicológicas y de salud en la tipología de un posible nuevo perfil del jubilado. Participaron en este estudio un total de 161 jubilados (mayores de 55 años) sin deterioro cognitivo. Un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM) muestra que algunas variables de tipo social, psicológicas y de salud (por ejemplo, niveles bajos de ansiedad y depresión, buenas relaciones sociales, actividad física, buena salud y recursos económicos) participan de esa interacción con lo que podríamos denominar un nuevo perfil del jubilado, de especial interés en el ámbito de las organizaciones(AU)

Changes in society and the economy have reshaped the profile and definition of senior citizen over the past few decades. Unlike the traditional definition of the past, today there is no broad consensus on what it means to be a senior. New terms have appeared in different studies: new profile of seniors (Canes and García, 1989), new ageing (Bazo, 1992; 1996; 2000) and new retired (De Zayas, 1996). The primary aim of this study was to analyze the extent of interaction between certain social, psychological and health variables in the typology of a possible new profile for the retired. A total of 161 seniors (over 55) with no cognitive impairment took part in the study. A structural equation model (SEM) showed that some of the social, psychological and health-related variables (e.g., low anxiety and depression levels, good social relations, physical activity, good health, economic resources) play a role in this interaction. Therefore, a new profile for the retired could be portrayed, that would be particularly relevant for the organizations field(AU)