Self-Perceptions of Aging Among Young Adults Who Had Close Contact with a Grandparent

The present study aims to understand young adults' self-perceptions of aging (SPA) and the way their SPA would form throughout close contact with a grandparent, guided by the intergroup contact hypothesis. Fourteen young adults participated in a semi-structured interview for this study. They were ages 18 to 39 and had experienced at least one year of close contact with a grandparent. Thematic analysis of the interviews generated four overarching themes: (1) dichotomous prospects of the older self; (2) intangible resources considered essential for older adulthood; (3) grandparent setting an example of older adulthood; and (4) SPA formed by life events, others' aging, and physical appearance.

Automated summary

The present study aims to understand young adults' self-perceptions of aging and the way their self-perceptions would form through close contact with a grandparent. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 14 young adults aged 18 to 39 revealed four overarching themes: dichotomous prospects of the older self, intangible resources considered essential for older adulthood, grandparent setting an example of older adulthood, and self-perceptions of aging formed by life events, others' aging, and physical appearance.