What we think, feel and say about ageing as a society has enormous implications for how well we age. Ageism, one of the great (and mostly hidden) prejudices of our time, continues to permeate through language, culture, society and systems throughout the globe, with serious consequences for older people’s health and well-being. While the evidence base suggests that appropriate interventions can shift hearts and minds, research on ageism and perceptions of ageing continues to uncover new ground.

This symposium will present findings from several studies exploring the themes of ageism and perceptions of ageing from a range of multi-disciplinary perspectives, approaches and institutions. Topics that will be covered will include gender differences in expectations about ageing, links with cognition, awareness of age-related change and associations with well-being, intergenerational perspectives on ageing and the built environment, and the results of an educational intervention challenging ageism amongst the Australian general public. Individual presentations will be contextualised within the context of a collaborative discussion, together with audience members, about the implications of the themes presented for ageing in Australia and internationally.

Background
Ageism refers to pervasive stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination relating to age that are directed towards oneself or others. Ageism is associated with a broad range of negative health outcomes, including mental and physical illness, reduced access to health services and treatment, and decreased longevity. While educational interventions have been shown to reduce ageism, few have been conducted or evaluated within the Australian context. Consequently, this study aimed to develop and test a short online course to challenge ageism amongst the Australian general public.

Methods
The Challenging Ageism course was launched through Torrens University Australia (TUA) in June of 2024, and was made available free of charge. A 10% convenience sample of enrolees was recruited to complete a pre-and post-course online survey. The primary outcome was change in self- and other-directed ageism, as measured by the Brief Ageing Perception Questionnaire (B-APQ) and Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA).

Results
Participants completing the Challenging Ageism course (n=35, female 91%) recorded significant reductions in both self-directed (B-APQ) (z=2.914, r=.493, p=.004) and other-directed (FSA) (z=3.794, r=.641, p=< .001) ageism.

Conclusion
The preliminary results from this pilot study have shown that an online, user friendly, cost-effective education course has the potential to effectively reduce levels of self- and other-directed ageism. Given the pervasive nature of ageism and associated negative consequences for older people and society, this result shows promise for future such efforts promoting positive societal attitudes about older people and the ageing process.

Introduction: Self-perceptions of ageing are known to impact health outcomes for older adults, including cognition. The current study examines gender differences in expectations regarding ageing (ERA), and how these differences are associated with cognitive challenges.

Methods: We report cross-sectional data of a representative Australian cohort recruited by the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Study: N=1562, 48% females, Mean age=75.06. Cognition measures included clinical diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), subjective memory complaints, memory, and executive functioning. Multiple linear regression evaluated the associations between gender, cognition, and ERA, adjusting for age, education, self-rated health, depression, and physical function.

Results: Gender differences in ERA were found in cognitively normal participants (CNs), where women had higher ERA than men (β=5.45, p<.00), but not among those with MCI. Participants with MCI had lower ERA than CNs (β=-5.84, p=.01), while subjective memory complaints were associated with lower ERA in both groups (CN: β=-1.28, p<.00; MCI: β=-1.52, p<.01). Executive functioning was associated with higher ERA among CNs only (β=.27, p=.01).

Conclusions: Our research shows that currently experienced cognitive challenges may be related to attitudes towards general ageing. Although women tend to be more positive about ageing than men, gender differences in ERA are attenuated among those with MCI. These results offer insights into internalised age stereotypes among older adults and future interventions.

Introduction: Theorised mechanisms linking views on ageing, self-regulation and well-being have not previously been examined longitudinally. The current study considers goal re-engagement as a potential mediator of longitudinal relationships between awareness of age-related change (AARC) and vitality. We expected that more positive perceptions of ageing (i.e., higher awareness of gains and lower awareness of losses) at Time 1 (T1) would be associated with increases in goal re-engagement and, in turn, increases in vitality. We also examined possible moderating effects of age on associations of AARC with goal re-engagement and vitality.
Method: A sample of 408 middle-aged and older adults (60 years and over) completed three online assessments capturing AARC (gains and losses), goal re-engagement, and vitality over a 12-month period. Parallel process latent growth models were used to test for mediation.
Results: Associations among variable intercepts revealed that more positive views of ageing were associated with higher levels of goal re-engagement and greater vitality. However, there was no support for the longitudinal mediation hypotheses, with T1 levels of AARC showing negligible associations with rates of change in goal re-engagement and vitality. Moderation analyses revealed a stronger association of T1 AARC-gains with the intercept for goal re-engagement at older, relative to younger ages.
Conclusions: Although growing evidence supports cross-sectional links between views on ageing, self-regulation and well-being, research with longer measurement intervals and a more comprehensive array of potential mediators is needed to conclusively identify underlying mechanisms.