The Association of (In)Congruence Between Aging Self‐Stereotypes and Aging Stereotypes With Positive Psychological Traits in Older Adults: The Mediating Role of Hope

This study examined how congruence and incongruence between aging self-stereotypes and aging stereotypes relate to positive psychological traits (subjective well-being, self-esteem, and sense of coherence) in older adults, and whether hope serves as a mediating mechanism. Data from 1204 older adults were analyzed using polynomial regression and response surface analysis, and the mediating role of hope was tested using the block variable approach. The results revealed distinct patterns in the joint effects of aging self-stereotypes and aging stereotypes on the three positive psychological traits. Along the line of congruence, subjective well-being and sense of coherence showed inverted i-shaped patterns, with the highest levels observed at moderate congruence and lower levels observed at extreme congruence, either high or low. In contrast, self-esteem declined linearly as both stereotypes increased congruently. Along the line of incongruence, subjective well-being and sense of coherence were higher when aging self-stereotypes were less negative than aging stereotypes, but lower when the reverse pattern occurred. Self-esteem, however, was higher when discrepancies were greater in either direction. In addition, hope partially mediated the effects of congruence and incongruence between aging self-stereotypes and aging stereotypes on all three positive psychological traits. These findings challenge the assumption that alignment between aging self-stereotypes and aging stereotypes is always beneficial. Instead, our results suggest that moderate congruence and certain patterns of incongruence-particularly when aging stereotypes are more negative than aging self-stereotypes-are associated with better psychological well-being, with hope playing an important mediating role.