Development and evaluation of a Protection Motivation Theory-based intervention to promote life planning and reduce ageism among younger people

• This study developed a novel intervention based on Protection Motivation Theory. • Youth’s emphasis on/behavioral intentions regarding life planning increased. • Also, their hope for the future increased. • Levels of ageism and aging anxiety among youth significantly decreased. • This intervention shows potential for implementation in educational settings. Previous studies have developed interventions aimed at simultaneously promoting long-term life planning and reducing ageism among younger individuals. Building on this work, the present study developed a novel intervention based on Protection Motivation Theory and evaluated its effectiveness in a sample of younger participants ( N = 498). The intervention comprised the following components: a free-writing task addressing potential negative future events (to target threat appraisal), an explanatory text aimed at reducing ageism, a free-writing task designed to enhance hope for the future, and an explanatory text intended to strengthen the perception that life planning is both meaningful and achievable (to target coping appraisal). Following the intervention, participants demonstrated increased emphasis on life planning, stronger behavioral intentions regarding life planning, and greater hope for the future. Additionally, levels of ageism and aging anxiety significantly decreased. Given its effectiveness in enhancing a wide range of psychological and attitudinal outcomes, this intervention shows strong potential for implementation in educational settings targeting younger populations.