University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, 2148 S. High St. Denver, CO 80208, United States of America.
University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, 2148 S. High St. Denver, CO 80208, United States of America.
J Aging Stud. 2022 Jun;61:101031. doi: 10.1016/j.jaging.2022.101031. Epub 2022 May 7.
The productive aging literature describes a wide range of psychosocial benefits of volunteerism for older adults. A growing, compelling body of research drawing from stereotype embodiment theory identifies significant, negative public health impacts of internalized age stereotypes. Yet, little research explores which activities may reduce internalized ageism and enhance psychosocial health as people age. This cross-sectional parallel mediation study examines whether internalized age stereotypes mediate the relationship between volunteering and social connectedness for adults over 50. A convenience sample of volunteers (n = 165) 50+ years of age in the U.S. Mountain West completed an online survey primarily during the COVID-19 pandemic. The independent variable is volunteer hours per week (M = 6.45, SD = 5.38). The dependent variable is social connectedness measured by five positively worded items from the UCLA loneliness scale (M = 4.32, SD = 0.63, and α = 0.86). The indirect effects of five internalized positive (e.g., "wise" and "capable") (M = 4.85, SD = 0.68, α = 0.72) and five negative (e.g., "grumpy" and "helpless") (M = 1.20, SD = 1.02, α = 0.74) age stereotypes were tested. Results (n = 154) indicate that increased internalized positive, but not negative, age stereotypes partially mediate the relationship between volunteer hours and increased social connectedness, while holding constant relevant covariates. Although positive age stereotypes have long been considered a form of ageism, the results of this study suggest that internalizing positive age stereotypes may function as a form of esteem (particularly during the pandemic) to promote enhanced psychosocial health as people age.
积极老龄化文献描述了志愿服务对老年人的广泛的心理社会益处。越来越多的、引人注目的研究依据刻板印象体现理论，确定了内化年龄刻板印象对公共健康的重大负面影响。然而，很少有研究探讨哪些活动可以减少内化的年龄歧视，随着人们年龄的增长而增强心理社会健康。这项横断面平行中介研究检验了内隐年龄刻板印象是否在 50 岁以上成年人的志愿服务与社会联系之间的关系中起中介作用。美国山区西部的 50 岁以上的志愿者（n=165）参加了一项在线调查，该调查主要是在 COVID-19 大流行期间进行的。自变量是每周的志愿服务时间（M=6.45，SD=5.38）。因变量是社会联系，用 UCLA 孤独量表中的五个积极的项目来衡量（M=4.32，SD=0.63，α=0.86）。五个内化的积极刻板印象（如“聪明”和“有能力”）（M=4.85，SD=0.68，α=0.72）和五个消极刻板印象（如“脾气暴躁”和“无助”）（M=1.20，SD=1.02，α=0.74）的间接效应进行了检验。结果（n=154）表明，增加内化的积极刻板印象，但不是消极刻板印象，部分中介了志愿服务时间与增加社会联系之间的关系，同时控制了相关的协变量。尽管积极的年龄刻板印象长期以来一直被认为是一种年龄歧视，但这项研究的结果表明，内化积极的年龄刻板印象可能作为一种自尊的形式（特别是在大流行期间），促进随着人们年龄的增长而增强心理社会健康。
