Self-perceptions of aging seem to be a key variable to understand physical and mental health (see the systematic review conducted by Tully-Wilson et al., 2021). Following Levy’s (2003) stereotype embodiment theory, negative attitudes towards aging originate as aging stereotypes (e.g., “older people are frail”; Warmoth et al., 2016) during childhood. They are internalized and reinforced in adulthood, both consciously and below conscious awareness, becoming aging self-stereotypes in old age and affecting self-perceptions of aging (Levy, 2003). Kordnat et al. (2016) developed an implicit association test (IAT; Greenwald et al., 1998) to assess implicit age stereotypes for specific life domains (health and family domains) across the life span and found positive stereotypes towards older people for family domain and negative for health domain. However, the associations between implicit age stereotypes and adults’ psychological distress have been scarcely analyzed. The aims of this communication are: a) to present the preliminary data of the validation of the implicit association test (IAT, Greenwald et al., 1998) to measure implicit aging stereotypes and b) to explore the relationship between implicit aging stereotypes and older adults’ psychological distress (loneliness, guilt associated with self-perception as a burden, and anxiety and depressive symptoms).

The IAT used is an adaptation of the IAT developed by Kordnat et al. (2016). The IAT explores the relationship between the categories of sickness/health and old/young age. The task has a target category that consists of: a) a set of 6 words of physical and mental sickness (e.g., frail, weak, sad, lonely) and 6 words of physical and mental health (e.g., healthy, energetic, happy, in company); and b) 6 photos of old people and 6 photos of young people.

Preliminary results of the implicit aging stereotypes task associations with older adults’ psychological distress in 100 community dwelling older adults will be presented.

Findings will be discussed. The implicit (below awareness) assessment of the aging stereotypes with the IAT in older adults could provide a better understanding of the role of aging stereotypes in older adults’ psychological distress, avoiding the weaknesses of assessing the construct through self-report measures.