Antecedents and Correlates of the Dynamics of Self-Perceptions of Aging Across Adulthood: A Multi-Method Approach

• Applicant: Dr. Dana Kotter-Grühn
• Subject Area: Developmental and Educational Psychology
• Term: from 2009 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 109055383

Feeling younger and being satisfied with one’s own age(ing) are important indicators of successful aging. It can be assumed that most (older) persons strive for such positive self-perceptions of aging. The central idea of the research to be proposed in this application is to examine the mechanisms that may underlie and explain changes in self-perceptions of aging across adulthood. Knowledge about these mechanisms can contribute to our understanding of how to promote successful development in a growing population of older persons. Using different methodological approaches (e.g., experimental, daily-diary, and longitudinal studies), the proposed research aims to answer the following questions: (1) Is it possible to manipulate individuals’ self-perceptions of aging through the activation of age stereotypes? (2) Are persons with positive self-perceptions of aging less prone to negative influences of age stereotypes on memory performance? (3) How do self-perceptions of aging vary on a day-to-day basis and how is this fluctuation associated with daily health, stressors, and mood? (4) Do self-regulation skills as well as the occurrence of critical life events or life transitions account for level differences and/or changes in selfperceptions of aging over time?

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Dr. Thomas M. Hess