Media Representations of Aging and Their Psychological Impact: Age Anxiety Among Older Korean Adults

TL;DR

This study explores how media portrayals of aging affect older Korean adults' anxiety about getting older.

Contribution

The study reveals how media influences aging anxiety through perceived stereotypes among older Korean adults.

Findings

Media representation positively affects perceived age stereotypes and aging anxiety.

Perceived age stereotypes mediate the link between media and psychosocial aging anxiety.

Findings suggest practical strategies to reduce aging anxiety in aging societies.

Abstract

This study investigates the association between media representation, perceived age stereotypes, and aging anxiety among Korean older adults. A total of 600 older adults aged 65 years and older were analyzed via structural equation modelling and the bootstrapping method using a cross-sectional, secondary dataset. Regarding the direct effects, media representation was positively associated with perceived age stereotypes, aging anxiety related to financial matters, and aging anxiety in relation to psychosocial factors. In addition, perceived age stereotypes were positively associated with aging anxiety in regard to psychosocial factors. In terms of indirect effects, perceived age stereotypes only mediated the relationship between media representation and aging-anxiety-related psychosocial factors. This study’s findings are significant for alleviating aging anxiety in an aging society, offering practical strategies for mitigating such concerns.

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