Self-perceptions of ageing: being positive makes a difference to our health

Dr Serena Sabatini, Economic and Social Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Nottingham

Thursday 21 September, Microsoft Teams

This lecture has now taken place. In case you missed the event a recording of the presentation can be viewed here.

Due to population ageing, the number of people experiencing physical health conditions and cognitive impairment is increasing. Because health conditions and cognitive impairment have a detrimental impact on individuals, their families, healthcare systems, and the economy, promotion of health maintenance in older age is a global public health priority. Negative self-perceptions of ageing (e.g., believing that ageing equals poor health) may be a modifiable risk factor for health conditions and cognitive impairment as they cause people to abandon or ignore health-enhancing behaviours. 

In this online talk Dr Sabatini will introduce the concept of self-perceptions of ageing and provide an overview of literature linking self-perceptions of ageing with health-enhancing behaviours and indicators of mental, physical, and cognitive health. She will present some of her findings looking both at cognitively healthy people, as well as at people living with dementia.  

Access the online lecture here: Science Public Lecture - September.

This lecture is part of the monthy science public lecture series. These events showcase research from scientists at the University of Nottingham and are free and open to all!  

About the speaker 

Dr Sabatini has a PhD in Psychology (University of Exeter) on the topic of Awareness of age-related change and its associations with cognitive, mental, and physical health and well-being in later life. She worked as Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Exeter for the Improving the Experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life program which explores how psychosocial and medical factors relate to the experiences of people with dementia and their carers. She also worked as Postdoctoral Researcher at the Università della Svizzera Italiana (Switzerland), with focus on the Corona Immunitas project which studies the spread of COVID-19 infection and its impact on the physical, mental, and cognitive health of the Swiss population. She is currently an Economic and Social Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Nottingham where she investigates the bidirectional relationships between self-perceptions of ageing and health-related behaviours and health.