title: Predictors of subjective age before and after cataract surgery: conscientiousness makes a difference.
abstract: This study contributes to research on subjective age by examining the interplay of felt age with health, functional limitations, and personality. Individuals undergoing cataract surgery (N=134; 38 to 92 years of age) provided data for an assessment period of 6 weeks surrounding their scheduled surgery. Conscientiousness and repeated measurements of health indicators, functional limitations, and felt age were included in the analyses. Results indicated that functional limitations may be more important to the construction of felt age than their underlying health-related causes. Moreover, conscientious participants felt younger before and after surgery. Their functional status was less dependent on health than the functional status of less conscientious participants. This moderator effect is discussed along with health-related pathways leading to felt age.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. nina.knoll@charite.de
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Knoll
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rieckmann
authors.forename: Urte
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwarzer
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory