Reframing Expectations About Aging - Physical Activity and Inclusive Reappraisal

This intervention was developed by Wolff, Warner (47) in 2013-2014; refined by Beyer, Wolff (59) in 2017-2018; and further refined for this project. It will be delivered through three in-person one-hour sessions by two psychologists. it will include homework between sessions two and three. The first session will consist of a quiz on aging with questions about healthy aging and aging in general to detect own negative personal views on aging and misconceptions regarding aging. The second session will provide information on the benefits of more positive views on aging on health, functional and cognitive abilities, and longevity. During the third session participants are thought a technique to modify negative automatic thoughts about aging and asked/invited to put in practice this technique. Finally, the intervention ends with a focus on positive views on aging and their importance for one's health and wellbeing.

The intervention lasts 12 weeks and is based on international guidelines of physical exercise. Participants will be instructed to walk briskly in one continuous bout (45 minutes for 5 days, 225 minutes per week). Intensity, duration, and times per week will be initiated in a stepwise manner to reduce the possibility of injury. During the first week participants will be asked to walk 30 minutes at 9-10 on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale (i.e., light intensity). During the second week, participants will be asked to walk 45 minutes with the same intensity. During the remaining weeks, participants will be asked to maintain the duration of 45 minutes and increase the intensity of the activity to a moderate-high effort that corresponds with 12-14 in the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale.