Household members’ positive personality traits and age stereotypes do not predict perceived expectations for active aging

Sonja Radoš (), Maria K. Pavlova, Klaus Rothermund and Rainer K. Silbereisen
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Sonja Radoš: Institute of Gerontology, University of Vechta
Maria K. Pavlova: Institute of Gerontology, University of Vechta
Klaus Rothermund: Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Rainer K. Silbereisen: Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

European Journal of Ageing, 2025, vol. 22, issue 1, No 11, 9 pages

Abstract: Abstract The household represents a proximal social context whose members can convey various expectations to each other, including expectations for active aging. We used a nationally representative sample (N = 2007, aged 16–94 years) to investigate the household predictors of perceived expectations for active aging (PEAA, i.e., “activation demands” targeting individuals as older adults) in three domains: physical health, mental health, and social engagement. We considered household members’ dispositional optimism, conscientiousness, age stereotypes, and the life goal of civic engagement. A set of preregistered multiple regression analyses indicated that, irrespective of age, household members’ life goal of civic engagement had a positive effect on individual PEAA in the social engagement domain, which disappeared upon controlling for the respective individual life goal. In middle-aged and older adults, household members’ conscientiousness unexpectedly had a significantly negative effect on individual PEAA in the physical health domain. Neither household members’ dispositional optimism nor their domain-specific age stereotypes had significant associations with individual PEAA. Our findings suggest that household members’ mindsets and attitudes play a limited role in predicting PEAA of individuals from the same household.

Keywords: Active aging; Conscientiousness; Dispositional optimism; Dyadic and interpersonal effects; Life goals; Prescriptive age stereotypes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10433-025-00850-4

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