Physical appearance concerns and mental health in later life: testing the self-directed Ageism Pathway model

Abstract

Aging anxiety and self-directed ageism are increasingly recognised as key psychological processes shaping mental health in later life. However, little is known about how specific components of aging anxiety -particularly concerns related to physical appearance- interact with internalised ageist beliefs. This study tested the Self-Directed Ageism Pathway Model (SDA-PM), proposing that concerns about physical appearance exert their influence on mental health exclusively through self-directed ageism. This study provides empirically validates the SDA-PM and promotes the integration between embodiment-based and cognitive theories of internalised ageism. By identifying self-directed ageism as the main link between ageing-related appearance concerns and poorer mental health, the findings highlight the importance of interventions that address internalised beliefs across clinical, educational and community settings.