Age-related aspects of self-presentation in interpersonal relations

Introduction. This study examines the features of self-presentation strategies across different age groups, addressing a gap in the literature concerning the relationship between behavioral strategies and the age-related characteristics of self-presentation. This study aims to identify age-related structural patterns of self-presentation. Materials and methods. The study involved 385 participants stratified by age. A comprehensive battery of psychometric instruments was employed to assess self-presentation strategies and related psychological constructs, including Self-Presentation Strategies (I.P. Shkuratova); Self-Regulation Styles (V.I. Morosanova); Communication Orientation (S.L. Bratchenko); Volitional Personality Traits (M.V. Chumakov); Self-Confidence (V.G. Romek); Reflectivity Level (A.V. Karpov); Affiliation Motives (A. Mehrabian). Statistical analyses were conducted using Statistica 10, Jamovi, and specialized R packages (psych, lavaan). Results. The findings reveal significant age-related differences in self-presentation strategies. Adult participants exhibited greater communicative independence, demonstrating lower susceptibility to social rejection and reduced reliance on behavioral adaptability to gain approval. Younger individuals displayed a need for social validation, leading to increased behavioral variability and anticipatory self-presentation strategies. These participants were more likely to plan in detail their actions and adjust their self-presentation to align with perceived social expectations. Conclusion. Understanding age-related differences in self-presentation enables the development of targeted interventions to optimize communication strategies and achieve effective social impression.