Negative perceptions of aging and decline in walking speed: a self-fulfilling prophecy.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Walking speed is a meaningful marker of physical function in the aging population. While it is a primarily physical measure, experimental studies have shown that merely priming older adults with negative stereotypes about aging results in immediate declines in objective walking speed. What is not clear is whether this is a temporary experimental effect or whether negative aging stereotypes have detrimental effects on long term objective health. We sought to explore the association between baseline negative perceptions of aging in the general population and objective walking speed 2 years later.

Method

4,803 participations were assessed over 2 waves of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), a prospective, population representative study of adults aged 50

SUBMITTER: Robertson DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4414532 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature