The productive aging literature describes a wide range of psychosocial benefits of volunteerism for older adults. A growing, compelling body of research drawing from stereotype embodiment theory identifies significant, negative public health impacts of internalized age stereotypes. Yet, little research explores which activities may reduce internalized ageism and enhance psychosocial health as people age. This cross-sectional parallel mediation study examines whether internalized age stereotypes mediate the relationship between volunteering and social connectedness for adults over 50. A convenience sample of volunteers (n = 165) 50+ years of age in the U.S. Mountain West completed an online survey primarily during the COVID-19 pandemic. The independent variable is volunteer hours per week (M = 6.45, SD = 5.38). The dependent variable is social connectedness measured by five positively worded items from the UCLA loneliness scale (M = 4.32, SD = 0.63, and α = 0.86). The indirect effects of five internalized positive (e.g., "wise" and "capable") (M = 4.85, SD = 0.68, α = 0.72) and five negative (e.g., "grumpy" and "helpless") (M = 1.20, SD = 1.02, α = 0.74) age stereotypes were tested. Results (n = 154) indicate that increased internalized positive, but not negative, age stereotypes partially mediate the relationship between volunteer hours and increased social connectedness, while holding constant relevant covariates. Although positive age stereotypes have long been considered a form of ageism, the results of this study suggest that internalizing positive age stereotypes may function as a form of esteem (particularly during the pandemic) to promote enhanced psychosocial health as people age.
Keywords: Internalized ageism; Loneliness; Older adults; Social connections; Volunteering.
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