Wisdom's moderating role in the association between perceived ageism and life satisfaction among older adults in Japan: A pre-registered study

• To improve seniors’ life satisfaction, identifying the associated variables is effective. • We administered a pre-registered survey among older Japanese adults. • Participants with greater perceived ageism experienced lower life satisfaction. • Participants’ wisdom did not moderate this association. To maintain and improve older adults’ life satisfaction, identifying the associated variables is effective. Previous studies reported that older adults who strongly perceive ageism from their surroundings exhibit low life satisfaction. This study examined whether these results can be replicated. Furthermore, variables moderating the association between perceived ageism and life satisfaction among older adults may exist. Hence, this study exploratively examined wisdom as a moderating variable. Specifically, among those with higher wisdom, life satisfaction is not low even if they perceive ageism from their surroundings, whereas, among those with lower wisdom, individuals with stronger perceived ageism are more likely to exhibit lower life satisfaction. We administered a pre-registered online survey among 718 older Japanese adults. A multiple regression analysis was conducted with life satisfaction as the dependent variable and perceived ageism, wisdom, their interaction effect, subjective wealth, subjective health, age, gender, and whether they lived alone as independent variables. The results revealed that individuals with greater perceived ageism experienced lower life satisfaction. However, participants’ wisdom did not moderate this association. Rather, it may be more appropriate to view wisdom as an independent variable that predicts life satisfaction. Other variables that may moderate this association between perceived ageism and life satisfaction should also be considered.