Objective: Positive self-perceptions of ageing are associated with better health; however, little is known about the potentially underlying mechanisms. The present longitudinal study examines whether the relationship between self-perceptions of ageing and self-rated health is mediated by physical activity in older adults with multiple chronic conditions.

Design: A sample of 309 German community-dwelling older adults aged 65-85 years with two or more chronic conditions was assessed at three measurement occasions over 2.5 years. Participants provided information on self-perceptions of ageing, physical activity, self-rated health, number of chronic conditions and demographics (T1). Physical activity was reassessed six months later (T2) and self-rated health after 2.5 years (T3). Data were analysed using multiple regression and path analyses.

Main outcome measures: Self-rated health and physical activity.

Results: More positive self-perceptions of ageing were related to better self-rated health over a 2.5-year period controlling for confounding variables. Physical activity six months after T1 partially mediated this relationship.

Conclusion: Having more positive self-perceptions of ageing is associated with higher levels of physical activity, which in turn predict better self-rated health over time. This supports the hypothesis of a behavioural pathway in the self-perceptions of ageing - health link.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	physical activity, self-perceptions of aging, aging stereotypes, older adults, self-rated health, physical activity, health behaviour, old age
Research Division:	Psychology
Research Group:	Clinical and health psychology
Research Field:	Health psychology
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Public health (excl. specific population health)
Objective Field:	Behaviour and health
UTAS Author:	Schuz, B (Dr Benjamin Schuez)
ID Code:	98781
Year Published:	2015
Web of Science® Times Cited:	59
Deposited By:	Psychology
Deposited On:	2015-03-02
Last Modified:	2017-11-03
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