Lifestyle and psychological well-being as predictors of a positive perception of aging

The relevance of the study is determined by the the necessity to understand the contribution of various aspects of one’s lifestyle to the structure of the adults’ perception of aging in order to further construct a productive old age of the population. The research purpose is to study the influence of the components of a healthy lifestyle and psychological well-being on a positive view on aging. The study hypothesizes that a healthy lifestyle and psychological well-being contribute to the formation of a positive image of aging. Participants: N = 92 aged 22–64 (Av. age = 34.5; SD = 12.9) from different regions of the Russian Federation, 27.2% of them are men, 72.8% are women. The methods (tools) used include the technique for determining the perception of aging based on the foreign tool “The Aging Perceptions Questionnaire” (APQ) (M. Barker, A. O’Hanlon, H.M. McGee, A. Hickey, R. M. Conroy); the questionnaire “Healthy Lifestyle Profile” (M. D. Petrash, O. Y. Strizhitskaya, I. R. Murtazina). The K. Riff’s Scale of Psychological Well-Being (in adaptation by E. G. Troshikhina, L. V. Zhukovskaya) was used to determine the manifestation level of the psychological well-being components. Results: the use of ANOVA allowed us to single out the differences in the parameters of ‘Physical activity’, ‘Internal growth’, ‘Stress management’ and the general indicator of well-being (ProZOZH), as well as in the parameter of psychological well-being “Competence” towards its greater manifestation in the group with a conscious approach to life. No statistically significant differences in the parameters of the concept of aging have been revealed.The study has evaluated the correlation between the perception-of-aging parameters, healthy lifestyle (HLS), psychological well-being and the age and the degree of one’s lifestyle awareness. The structure of the correlation between the parameters of a healthy lifestyle, as well as of a psychological well-being, and the perception of aging is revealed. The main conclusions. The approach to one’s lifestyle plays a significant role for a positive view on aging through the inclusion of healthy lifestyle components; psychological well-being stabilizes the determinant role of aging in human life and affects “positive control”. Practical significance: the materials can be used in individual psychological work to form a positive perception of aging and to construct a productive old age through lifestyle correction in the adult population.