title: Optimism buffers the detrimental effect of negative self-perceptions of ageing on physical and mental health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  First, to replicate previous findings on the detrimental effect of negative self-perceptions of ageing (SPA) on physical health outcomes and to expand them to the prediction of mental health; second, to test whether an optimistic outlook to the future can buffer the effect of negative SPA on physical and mental health outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data for this study comes from the 2008 and 2011 waves of the German Ageing Survey (DEAS; n = 6205), a population-based representative survey of adults aged 40-85 years. Mean age of the participants was 61.50 (± 12.1), 49.5% were women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-rated health, physical functioning and depressive symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple regression analyses indicated that negative SPA predicted deterioration in the three health outcomes over a three-year period, controlling for demographics and illnesses. The most remarkable finding is the interaction with optimism: People who were prepared for physical losses (negative SPA), and who were nevertheless optimistic, were better able to maintain better physical functioning, and lower depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A multidimensional perspective on ageing, considering both gains and losses at the same time, seems to be best for the maintenance of good health. Individual and societal positive views of ageing should be encouraged.
authors: a German Centre of Gerontology , Berlin , Germany.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Wurm
authors: Yael
authors: Y
authors: Benyamini
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept
keywords: ageing stereotypes; depression; optimism; physical functioning; self-perceptions of ageing; self-rated health