New research suggests negative self-perception during the ageing journey might have a detrimental spillover effect in terms of the health of your spouse.
As part of the study, published in the Journal of Ageing and Health, researchers drew data from nearly 6,000 individuals over the age of 50 and their partners.
Six health areas were targeted in the analysis: physical disability, functional performance, chronic disability, depressive symptoms, cognitive functioning and self-rated health.
Interestingly, researchers found negative ageing beliefs often became something of a self-fulfilling prophecy, affecting psychological, cognitive and behavioural processes.
“As a result, these beliefs may become a reality,” says Professor Lydia Li from the University of Michigan, one of the study’s co-authors.
For instance, when women had less negative ageing self-perceptions, they were more likely to adopt healthy behaviours which they’d then encourage in their partner.
But if their ageing self-perceptions were more negative, they were less likely to do health care work for themselves and their partners, who were consequently affected.
Another reason to stay positive and look at the bright side of getting older!
