Physical Recovery after Acute Myocardial Infarction: Positive Age Self-Stereotypes as a Resource

We considered whether positive and stable self-stereotypes of stigmatized group members can influence functioning (in contrast, stereotype threat theory suggests these influential self-stereotypes are limited to ones that are negative and situational). Specifically, we examined older individuals...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of aging & human development 2006-01, Vol.62 (4), p.285-301
Main Authors: Levy, Becca R., Slade, Martin D., May, Jeanine, Caracciolo, Eugene A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult. Elderly
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging (Individuals)
Attitude to Health
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiology. Vascular system
Comorbidity
Coronary heart disease
Depression (Psychology)
Developmental psychology
Elderly
Elderly people
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Geriatrics
Heart
Heart attacks
Heart Diseases
Heart Disorders
Humans
Hypothesis Testing
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial Infarction - drug therapy
Myocardial Infarction - psychology
Myocardial Infarction - rehabilitation
Myocarditis. Cardiomyopathies
Older Adults
Older people
Outcomes of Treatment
Patients
Physical Health
Predictor Variables
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Recovery
Selfstereotypes
Social Support
Stereotypes
Stereotyping
Stigma
Stigmatization
Surgery
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Summary:We considered whether positive and stable self-stereotypes of stigmatized group members can influence functioning (in contrast, stereotype threat theory suggests these influential self-stereotypes are limited to ones that are negative and situational). Specifically, we examined older individuals' positive age stereotypes after a life-threatening event, an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Sixty-two persons, aged 50 to 96, participated. As expected, positive age stereotypes were found, even immediately after an AMI, and they did not significantly change over the next seven months. Also as expected, these self-stereotypes predicted physical recovery, after adjusting for potentially relevant covariates. Recovery expectations acted as a mediator. These findings suggest the importance of understanding the role that positive stereotypes may play in the health of stigmatized group members.
ISSN:0091-4150
1541-3535
DOI:10.2190/EJK1-1Q0D-LHGE-7A35