Mental health characteristics and acceptance-rejection of old age.

Self-report and observer ratings of acceptance of old age were compared to chronological age as correlates of 21 indicators of mental health for two samples of older adults. While chronological age was not well correlated with mental health indicators, both indexes of acceptance-rejection of old age were. Results suggest that acceptance of oneself as "old" is related to poorer cognition, functional health, self-esteem, attitudes toward others, ego strength, and morale, as well as to higher incidence of maladjustive behavior and passive mastery style.