Sabatini Serena, Turner Shelbie G, Stephan Blossom
School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
Weill Cornell Medical College, Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, New York City, New York, USA.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2025 Jun 10;80(7). doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbaf083.
Positive general views on and self-perceptions of aging (SPAs) are important for active and healthy aging. This cross-sectional study compared the general views on aging and SPAs of dementia caregivers with those of noncaregivers.
Data from the German Aging Study comprising 190 caregivers (mean age = 65.69 years; SD = 10.11) and 4,480 noncaregivers (mean age = 68.81 years; SD = 10.49) were used. The onset of old age was used to assess general views on aging. Estimated own reachable age, felt age, attitudes toward own aging, and aging-related cognitions were used to assess SPAs. Sociodemographic variables, health conditions, and depressive symptoms were used as covariates. Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models were used.
Onset of old age did not differ between dementia caregivers and noncaregivers. Dementia caregivers and noncaregivers had similar felt age, attitudes toward own aging, expected own reachable age, and aging-related cognitions on physical losses, ongoing development, and self-knowledge. Compared to noncaregivers, caregivers reported lower negative aging-related cognitions on social losses (adjusted B = -0.60; 95% CI: -0.93, -0.73; standardized beta = -0.05).
Except from aging-related cognitions on social losses, dementia caregivers and noncaregivers had similar general views on aging and SPAs. Hence, despite close contact with people who have complex conditions such as dementia, dementia caregivers may not be at greater risk of negative general views of aging and SPAs.
对衰老持有积极的总体看法以及自我认知（SPA）对于积极健康老龄化很重要。这项横断面研究比较了痴呆症照料者与非照料者对衰老的总体看法和SPA。
使用了来自德国老龄化研究的数据，其中包括190名照料者（平均年龄 = 65.69岁；标准差 = 10.11）和4480名非照料者（平均年龄 = 68.81岁；标准差 = 10.49）。用老年的开始来评估对衰老的总体看法。用估计自己可达到的年龄、感知年龄、对自身衰老的态度以及与衰老相关的认知来评估SPA。将社会人口统计学变量、健康状况和抑郁症状用作协变量。使用了未调整和调整后的线性回归模型。
痴呆症照料者和非照料者在老年开始方面没有差异。痴呆症照料者和非照料者在感知年龄、对自身衰老的态度、预期自己可达到的年龄以及对身体损失、持续发展和自我认知方面的与衰老相关的认知方面相似。与非照料者相比，照料者在社会损失方面报告的与衰老相关的负面认知较低（调整后的B = -0.60；95%置信区间：-0.93，-0.73；标准化β = -0.05）。
除了在社会损失方面与衰老相关的认知外，痴呆症照料者和非照料者对衰老的总体看法和SPA相似。因此，尽管与患有痴呆症等复杂疾病的人密切接触，但痴呆症照料者对衰老和SPA持有负面总体看法的风险可能不会更高。
