Aging between experience and attitudes: a research with Italian and Spanish

As ageing is one of the most important demographic challenges, it is important to focus our efforts on successful ageing. Positive affect and high self-efficacy levels can to be considered important dimensions of successful ageing. We carried out two study involving people from two similar socio-economic contexts in Italy and Spain. The first one was aimed to explore elders’ Affect and Self-Efficacy and verify which was the role played by Quality of Life on above mentioned dimensions. The second one verified the supposed hypothesis that empathy and knowledge influenced a better perception of ageing. As concern the first study, elders were somewhat satisfied with their life, Spaniards more than Italians. Almost all of the Quality of Life factors had a role on Positive Affect and Self-Efficacy beliefs. Regarding to the students, our findings showed that both knowledge and empathy played a positive role on a better perception of older people.