Mentalization in People Aged 60+

Mentalization – the ability to understand the self and others in terms of mental states – results from developmental processes, suggesting this ability may vary over the lifespan. This review identifies and appraises literature exploring what factors influence the mentalization of self and others in people aged 60+. Systematic searches were conducted across three databases (PsycINFO, Medline, CINAHL, and Embase). We appraised 10 reports of generally adequate quality using narrative synthesis due to their heterogeneity. We found tentative evidence for factors associated with mentalization in later life: age, psychological problems, physical health problems, social engagement, higher education, and ageist attitudes. We used an adapted model of secondary structural deficits – the model of secondary structural abilities – to map these findings. Further research is needed to explore associations; it should be explicit and consistent in its conceptualization of mentalization and select measures that reflect this.