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Positive Self-perceptions of Aging Promote Healthy Eating Behavior Across the Life Span via Social-Cognitive Processes

Author

Listed:
  • Verena Klusmann
  • Gudrun Sproesser
  • Julia K Wolff
  • Britta Renner

Abstract

Objectives Negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA) have been shown to result in lower levels of preventive behavior, health, and longevity. This study focuses on the understudied SPA effects on healthy eating across the life span. Moreover, it aims to provide longitudinal evidence of the psychological mechanisms behind this relationship. Method We investigated whether SPA (T1) can predict changes in eating behavior (T3) over 1 year in 1,321 participants (T1), aged 18–92 years. The explanatory role of social-cognitive processes (T1, T2) was tested via a two-step mediation analysis with multigroup modeling for different age and education levels. Results Baseline positive SPA predicted more healthy eating at T3 (b = 0.68, SE = 0.24, p = .01), controlling for baseline eating (T1), age, education, gender, BMI, and illnesses. Self-efficacy (T1) and intention to eat healthily (T2) serially mediated this effect, indirect effect: b = 0.04, p = .02, 95% CI (0.02, 0.08). SPA had stronger effects in older and less educated participants. Discussion This study provides important insights into the mechanisms behind positive SPA fueling successful health behavior change dynamics. Fostering more positive SPA through interventions might be especially important for vulnerable groups. Addressing SPA already in younger ages might help establish health-promoting life-span dynamics.

Suggested Citation

  • Verena Klusmann & Gudrun Sproesser & Julia K Wolff & Britta Renner, 2019. "Positive Self-perceptions of Aging Promote Healthy Eating Behavior Across the Life Span via Social-Cognitive Processes," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 74(5), pages 735-744.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:74:y:2019:i:5:p:735-744.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbx139
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Verena Klusmann & Nanna Notthoff & Ann-Kristin Beyer & Anne Blawert & Martina Gabrian, 2020. "The assessment of views on ageing: a review of self-report measures and innovative extensions," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 403-433, December.
    2. Juan-Cancio Arcila-Arango & Manuel Castro-Sánchez & Sebastian Espoz-Lazo & Cristian Cofre-Bolados & Maria Luisa Zagalaz-Sánchez & Pedro Valdivia-Moral, 2020. "Analysis of the Dimensions of Quality of Life in Colombian University Students: Structural Equation Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-11, May.
    3. Verena Klusmann & Anna E. Kornadt, 2020. "Current directions in views on ageing," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 383-386, December.

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