IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/eujoag/v20y2023i1d10.1007_s10433-023-00793-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

“If this is what it means to be old…”: a mixed methods study on the effects of age simulation on views on aging and perceptions of age-related impairments

Author

Listed:
  • Laura I. Schmidt

    (Heidelberg University)

  • Thomas H. Gerhardy

    (Heidelberg University)

  • Leslie Carleton-Schweitzer

    (Heidelberg University)

  • Hans-Werner Wahl

    (Heidelberg University
    Heidelberg University)

  • Katrin Jekel

    (AGAPLESION MARKUS HOSPITAL)

Abstract

Age simulation suits are a promising tool to increase empathy and to promote positive attitudes toward older adults. However, studies have largely focused on (young) healthcare professionals, are probably biased by social desirability, and have not addressed participants’ views of the aging process triggered by the simulation. The current work combines two studies addressing effects of aging suits on both general and personal views on aging among heterogeneous samples, and exploring spontaneous associations during the simulation. In study 1, N = 165 adults (M = 37.1 years, SD = 15.4, range 18–74 years) answered questionnaires containing general views regarding older adults (“old people are…”) as well as personal perceptions (”aging means to me…”) before and after wearing an aging suit. In study 2, young adults (N = 22; M = 24.8 years, SD = 4.3, range 20–38 years) and middle-aged adults (N = 41; M = 60.8 years, SD = 6.9, range 40–75 years) carried out established geriatric assessments with and without aging suit, and spontaneous impressions on the instant aging experience were recorded. Findings indicated negative shifts in both general and personal views on aging measures in both age groups (d = .30 to d = .44). Analyses of qualitative data resulted in seven main themes, e.g., “strain/coordination”, “future me”, “empathy/insight”. Group comparisons revealed higher frequencies of future-self related thoughts among middle-aged adults, whereas younger adults mentioned predominantly physical effects of the suit. In conclusion, applying age simulation suits might evoke unintended negative views on aging. In comparison with young adults, middle-aged adults showed broader reflections including thoughts related to emotions, future-self, and potential struggles of older people.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura I. Schmidt & Thomas H. Gerhardy & Leslie Carleton-Schweitzer & Hans-Werner Wahl & Katrin Jekel, 2023. "“If this is what it means to be old…”: a mixed methods study on the effects of age simulation on views on aging and perceptions of age-related impairments," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:20:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s10433-023-00793-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-023-00793-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10433-023-00793-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10433-023-00793-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anna E. Kornadt & Klaus Rothermund, 2011. "Contexts of Aging: Assessing Evaluative Age Stereotypes in Different Life Domains," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 66(5), pages 547-556.
    2. Thomas H. Gerhardy & Anna Schlomann & Hans-Werner Wahl & Laura I. Schmidt, 2022. "Effects of age simulation suits on psychological and physical outcomes: a systematic review," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 953-976, December.
    3. Nardi Steverink & Gerben J. Westerhof & Christina Bode & Freya Dittmann-Kohli, 2001. "The Personal Experience of Aging, Individual Resources, and Subjective Well-Being," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 56(6), pages 364-373.
    4. Anna E. Kornadt & Peggy Voss & Klaus Rothermund, 2017. "Age Stereotypes and Self-Views Revisited: Patterns of Internalization and Projection Processes Across the Life Span," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 72(4), pages 582-592.
    5. Alera Bowden & Valerie Wilson & Victoria Traynor & Hui‐Chen (Rita) Chang, 2020. "Exploring the use of ageing simulation to enable nurses to gain insight into what it is like to be an older person," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(23-24), pages 4561-4572, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    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. Peggy Voss & Julia K. Wolff & Klaus Rothermund, 2017. "Relations between views on ageing and perceived age discrimination: a domain-specific perspective," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 5-15, March.
    3. Frauke Meyer-Wyk & Susanne Wurm, 2024. "The role of social network diversity in self-perceptions of aging in later life," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-15, December.
    4. A. E. Burton & S. E. Dean & W. Demeyin & J. Reeves, 2021. "Questionnaire measures of self-directed ageing stereotype in older adults: a systematic review of measurement properties," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 117-144, March.
    5. Thomas H. Gerhardy & Anna Schlomann & Hans-Werner Wahl & Laura I. Schmidt, 2022. "Effects of age simulation suits on psychological and physical outcomes: a systematic review," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 953-976, December.
    6. Svenja M. Spuling & Verena Klusmann & Catherine E. Bowen & Anna E. Kornadt & Eva-Marie Kessler, 2020. "The uniqueness of subjective ageing: convergent and discriminant validity," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 445-455, December.
    7. Anna E. Kornadt & Eva-Marie Kessler & Susanne Wurm & Catherine E. Bowen & Martina Gabrian & Verena Klusmann, 2020. "Views on ageing: a lifespan perspective," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 387-401, December.
    8. Mélanie Emile & Fabienne d’Arripe-Longueville & Boris Cheval & Massimiliano Amato & Aïna Chalabaev, 2015. "An Ego Depletion Account of Aging Stereotypes’ Effects on Health-Related Variables," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 70(6), pages 876-885.
    9. Sarah Asebedo & Patrick Payne, 2019. "Market Volatility and Financial Satisfaction: The Role of Financial Self-Efficacy," Journal of Behavioral Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(1), pages 42-52, January.
    10. Allyson Brothers & Martina Miche & Hans-Werner Wahl & Manfred Diehl, 2017. "Examination of Associations Among Three Distinct Subjective Aging Constructs and Their Relevance for Predicting Developmental Correlates," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 72(4), pages 547-560.
    11. Susanne Wurm & Maja Wiest & Julia K. Wolff & Ann-Kristin Beyer & Svenja M. Spuling, 2020. "Changes in views on aging in later adulthood: the role of cardiovascular events," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 457-467, December.
    12. Martin Söllner & Mirjam Dürnberger & Johannes Keller & Arnd Florack, 2022. "The Impact of Age Stereotypes on Well-being: Strategies of Selection, Optimization, and Compensation as Mediator and Regulatory Focus as Moderator: Findings from a Cross-Sectional and a Longitudinal S," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 635-665, February.
    13. Philipp Kruse & Pauline Wangari Kamau, 2024. "Looking Through the Entrepreneurial Kaleidoscope—Examining Stereotypes Against Commercial, Social, Environmental, and Community Entrepreneurs in Kenya and Germany," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-24, November.
    14. Sonja Radoš & Maria K. Pavlova & Klaus Rothermund & Rainer K. Silbereisen, 2025. "Household members’ positive personality traits and age stereotypes do not predict perceived expectations for active aging," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 1-9, December.
    15. Serena Sabatini & Obioha C. Ukoumunne & Allyson Brothers & Manfred Diehl & Hans-Werner Wahl & Clive Ballard & Rachel Collins & Anne Corbett & Helen Brooker & Linda Clare, 2022. "Differences in awareness of positive and negative age-related changes accounting for variability in health outcomes," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1087-1097, December.
    16. Qingxiu Dang & Baoshan Zhang, 2022. "Linkage from Self-Sacrifice to Hope Through the Intervening Roles of Perceived Family Support and Attitudes to Aging in Chinese Older Adults," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2405-2426, August.
    17. Julia Zelikova, 2013. "Successful aging: a cross-national study of subjective well-being later in life," HSE Working papers WP BRP 21/SOC/2013, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    18. Julia K. Wolff & Benjamin Schüz & Jochen P. Ziegelmann & Lisa M. Warner & Susanne Wurm, 2017. "Short-Term Buffers, but Long-Term Suffers? Differential Effects of Negative Self-Perceptions of Aging Following Serious Health Events," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 72(3), pages 408-414.
    19. Maria-Eugenia Prieto-Flores & Antonio Moreno-Jiménez & Gloria Fernandez-Mayoralas & Fermina Rojo-Perez & Maria Forjaz, 2012. "The Relative Contribution of Health Status and Quality of Life Domains in Subjective Health in Old Age," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 106(1), pages 27-39, March.
    20. Zhen Zhang & Jianxin Zhang, 2015. "Social Participation and Subjective Well-Being Among Retirees in China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 123(1), pages 143-160, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:20:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s10433-023-00793-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.