The role of individual difference variables in ageism

Questions About Aging and Later Life on Quora

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Gerontologists have yet to explore the types of questions individuals have about later life. Analyzing questions offers a unique perspective on how individuals make sense of age-related issues. Specifically, questions require people to articulate specific inquiries or doubts, thus providing an unfiltered glimpse into the public's concerns and priorities vis-à-vis aging. We conduct a content analysis of questions posted on Quora that pertain to later life.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We compiled 2,950 questions posted across four topics on Quora: "Aging," "Senior Citizens," "Elders" and "Older People." After applying our exclusion criteria, 658 questions were left for content analysis. These questions received more than 250 million views. Both deductive and inductive approaches guided the qualitative analysis.

RESULTS

Five themes emerged from the analysis. The biggest theme (30%; N = 195) dealt with 'Practical Concerns' (Theme 1). The next biggest theme (29%; N = 191) was about "Health and Well-Being" (Theme 2). Theme 3 was about the 'Prolongation of Youth' (16%; N = 110) and Theme 4 was about the 'Science of Aging' (15%; N = 97). Theme 5 covered 'Existential Concerns' (10%; N = 65).

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

There is a need to address concerns that the public has about aging, particularly those involving practical issues and health. Growing old is unavoidable and with the population aging at a rapid pace, assuaging such concerns is of paramount importance. By doing so, individuals can approach the aging process with greater clarity and an elevated sense of empowerment.

On the Measurement of Aging Anxiety: Comparative Validity of Two Popular Measures Among Older Adults

Aging anxiety is a distinct form of fear characterized by negative feelings associated with growing older. This study directly compared two common measures of aging anxiety within an older adult sample. Participants completed the Anxiety about Aging Scale, the Personal Anxiety Toward Aging Scale and several related constructs including ageism, expectations regarding aging, dementia worry, and death anxiety. The two measures significantly and strongly associated with one another. The Anxiety about Aging Scale (AAS) showed evidence of convergent validity through significant and strong correlations with ageism, expectations regarding aging, and death anxiety, and a moderate correlation with dementia worry. The Personal Anxiety Toward Aging Scale (PAAS) also showed evidence of convergent validity through strong correlations with expectations regarding aging and death anxiety, and moderate correlations with ageism and dementia worry. Factor analysis showed a better model fit for the AAS. Key findings lend support for the AAS as a psychometrically stronger measure than the PAAS for older adult assessment.

Clinical and counseling psychology doctoral trainees' attitudes toward and interest in working with older adult clients

The small percentage of psychologists specializing in geropsychology will be increasingly insufficient to meet projected mental health needs of the growing older adult population in the United States. The current study examined contact with older adults, empathy, and multicultural competence as predictors of counseling and clinical psychology doctoral trainees' attitudes toward and interest in working with older adults. A sample of 311 doctoral trainees in clinical (n = 234) and counseling (n = 78) psychology were surveyed online. A structural equation model testing hypothesized interrelationships between study variables showed good fit. Greater contact with older adults was significantly related to less ageist attitudes, greater interest in work with older adults, and more empathy. Less ageist attitudes were significantly related to greater interest in clinical work with older adults. Greater empathy was significantly related to less ageist attitudes and greater multicultural competence, but to less interest in working with older adults. Empathy mediated the relation of contact to attitudes. Increasing positive contact with older adults as part of doctoral training in counseling and clinical psychology may enhance trainees' empathy, attitudes toward older adults, and interest in work with older adults.

Originalbeiträge (Originals). Unterscheidet sich der therapeutische Stil in altershomogenen und altersheterogenen therapeutischen Dyaden?

Does the therapeutic style differ in age-homogeneous and age-heterogeneous therapeutic dyads?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Differences between age-homogeneous and age-heterogeneous therapeutic dyads have rarely been the subject of research.The present study aimed to investigate differences in therapeutic style (Healing and Stressful Involvement).

METHOD

A sample of 527 questionnaires completed by therapists of different ages was available. Therapy style was compared between two patient groups (under 40 and over 65 years old) and three therapist groups (25-39, 40-59, ≥ 60).

RESULTS

The results show in particular more stress experienced by younger therapists in the treatment of older patients, while older therapists report less stress.There were no or fewer differences in the treatment of younger patients.The regression-analytical results show that the experience of stress in the therapy of older people is associated with a greater fear of old age.

CONCLUSION

Finally, some conclusions are discussed with regard to training and supervision of therapists in the treatment of older people.

[Association between ageism and sexism in university students]

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Ageism is the negative perception towards others based on age. The aim of this research was to analyze the levels of ageism and its association with sexism and other factors in university students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cross-sectional study among the students of the University of Granada. The data was collected through an online survey. Information on sociodemographic and academic variables was collected together with the Negative Stereotypes Questionnaire towards Old Age (CENVE), the Ambivalent Sexism Scale (ASI), the Brief Version of the Big Five Personality Inventory (BFPTSQ), the Anxiety Scale for Aging (AE) and the Contact with the Elderly Scale (CPM). Ageism levels were determined and associations with other variables were analyzed. A logistic regression model explored ageism' associated factors.

RESULTS

Two hundred and sixty-three students participated. Most had low or very low levels of ageism (83.3%). The most ageist students showed higher hostile sexism (OR=1.07; p<.01) and higher aging anxiety (OR=1.10; p<.05) than students with high scores in ageism. Graduate students showed protector OR for ageism when compared to postgraduate students (OR=.31; p<.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher hostile sexism and aging anxiety are associated with higher ageism in students from the University of Granada. Universities must include in their study plans knowledge about this problem and develop programs aimed at avoiding discrimination in the elderly.

Who believes in cross-age friendship? Predictors of the belief in intergenerational friendship scale in young adults

Intergenerational contact is beneficial for both younger and older adults, but friendships that span across generations are uncommon. While this is partially due to situational factors, people's beliefs about the possibility of intergenerational friendship may also affect how they approach potential intergenerational interactions. In a sample of 209 students from a Canadian university, we validate the Beliefs in Intergenerational Friendship (BIGF) scale. Young adults were more likely to believe in intergenerational friendship if they had less ageist attitudes and if they were more conscientious, open, agreeable, and emotionally stable. Number of non-kin intergenerational social contacts (but not number of kin contacts) and closeness of an existing relationship with an older adult also predicted greater belief in intergenerational friendship. BIGF scores predicted willingness to regularly spend time with older adults and were a better predictor than either hostile or benevolent ageism. While not everyone believes that intergenerational friendships are possible, this novel scale may uniquely capture people's willingness to form relationships across generations.

Neighborhood-Built Environment and Ageism in Later Life

Ageism is a global challenge and a public health concern that the recent COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated. Existing research has mainly focused on individual factors, overlooking the association between the neighborhood-built environment and ageism. This study examined this association and whether its effect varied among areas possessing different socioeconomic characteristics. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1278 older people in Hong Kong and merged this with the built environment factors derived from geographical information system data. We used multivariable linear regression to examine the association. Findings revealed that more parks were significantly associated with a lower level of ageism, an impact that remained significant in low-income or low-education areas. Conversely, more libraries in high-income areas were associated with a lower level of ageism. Our findings provide urban planners and policymakers insight into planning for the built environment that reduces ageism enabling older people to achieve a better life.

Dance to Prosper: Benefits of Chinese Square Dance in QOL and the Moderating Roles of Aging Stereotypes

BACKGROUND

By examining the effect of Chinese square dance duration through a positive activity model and discussing the impact of aging stereotype internalization, this study examined the relationships between dance duration, attitudes toward own aging (ATOA), aging stereotypes, and quality of life.

METHODS

403 Chinese square dance participants were recruited to complete a 7-day diary survey in a cross-sectional design. Participants reported on their ATOA, aging stereotypes, perceived quality of life, and everyday dance participation during the week. Data were analyzed using latent variable structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

Increased dance participation improved quality of life, and the mediation by ATOA was determined. Positive and negative aging stereotypes separately moderated the mediating process. In general, people who had relatively stronger negative stereotypes benefited more from dancing duration, while people with stronger positive stereotypes felt no such dose effect.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that an attitudinal pathway explains the positive activity dose effect, and people with more negative aging stereotypes are encouraged to practice Chinese square dance to benefit from certain effects.

Can Well-Being, Positive Affect, or Contact with the Elderly Be Potential Predictors of Attitudes towards Older People? A Study on the Polish Population

Objectives. The age discrimination, i.e., ageism, is still a current social problem. Therefore, it is justified to conduct studies increasing the knowledge about this phenomenon. The aim of our research was to determine whether the type of personality, manifested mood, and well-being can influence the attitudes towards the elderly. Material and Methods. During the research, we collected information from 923 participants and we used the following tools: demographic questionnaire, Kogan’s Attitudes Toward Old People Scale, Euthymia Scale, WHO-5 Well-Being Index, and the author’s questionnaire on contacts with an elderly person. Results. We used R 4.0.2 to analyse the data. In our current model study, we did not observe statistically significant relationships between the WHO-5 or ES scores and the KOAP score. Conclusions. The conducted study did not show any correlation between mood, sense of well-being, or contact with the elderly and attitude towards the elderly. The results of our study may become the basis for further research to find the relationship between the mood and well-being shown in attitudes towards the elderly. Perhaps, however, the assumption should also be made that there is no such relationship.

Death Anxiety and Willingness to Work in Geriatric Care: The Role of Contact With Older Adults

The current study sought to examine the moderating role of contact with older adults in the relationship between medical and nursing students' death anxiety and their willingness to work in geriatric care. A total of 385 Chinese freshman and sophomore medical and nursing students were included in this cross-sectional study. Logistic regression results showed that death anxiety was negatively related to students' willingness to work in geriatric care. The negative association between death anxiety and willingness was moderated by contact with general older adults (i.e., students who had frequent contact with general older adults were more willing to work in geriatric care even with a high level of death anxiety). However, contact with grandparents did not have a significant moderation effect. Interventions to reduce the negative impact of death anxiety on students' willingness to work with older adults should consider increasing medical and nursing students' quality and frequency of contact with older adults. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48(6), 49-56.].

Psychosocial predictors of young male workers’ discrimination against older workers in Japan: comparison of four models

To create environments conducive to the wellbeing of workers, especially older workers, it is important to gain insight into ageism among young workers as a distinct segment in the workplace. However, this ageism remains unclear. This study explored the psychosocial predictors of discrimination against older Japanese workers by their younger male counterparts. Four models – Intergroup Contact Theory (ICT), Knowledge–Attitude–Behaviour Model (KABM), Terror Management Theory (TMT) and Frustration–Aggression Theory (FAT) – formed the basis of the study. All the models included positive and negative dimensions of stereotypes as mediators between predictors and discrimination. Data from 874 participants were obtained through a voluntary web survey for employees aged 25–39 years who lived in the Tokyo metropolitan area. A scale describing interactions with older workers (supportive, uncomfortable and avoidance), Facts on Ageing quiz, fears of being an older worker and a job dissatisfaction survey were employed to examine the hypotheses based on the above theories. The results supported the hypotheses based on ICT and FAT but not KABM. Higher supportive contacts were significantly related to lower discrimination mediated by a higher positive and lower negative dimension of stereotypes. Contacts characterised by higher discomfort were significantly related to higher discrimination mediated by a lower positive and higher negative dimension of stereotypes. Higher job dissatisfaction was related to higher discrimination mediated by lower positive stereotypes. Interestingly, higher fear of being an older worker was significantly related to lower discrimination mediated by higher positive stereotypes, contrary to the TMT-based hypotheses. Thus, ICT and FAT regarding ageism can explain young male workers’ discrimination against older workers in Japan, which differs culturally from Western countries. Furthermore, the results of the study suggest that boosting the quality of interactions as well as reducing bad interactions with older workers contribute to lower discrimination.

A Study on the Motivation of Older Adults to Participate in Exercise or Physical Fitness Activities

Studies have found that older adults often experience severe problems due to a lack of exercise, including an increased risk of falls, increased psychological problems and reduced social participation. However, the practicality and sustainability of exercise or physical fitness activities among older adults are questionable because these adults may face physical and psychological obstacles. Hence, this study proposed a research model to explore the physical fitness behaviours of the elderly subjects and the specific factors for maintaining their motivation to participate in exercise or physical fitness activities. A survey for a total of 101 subjects of residents of Chang Gung Health and Culture Village (CGHCV) was conducted to investigate the effects of the elderly’s group identification and psychological proximity on their attitude and intention toward physical fitness. The results show that the group identification of the physical fitness activities, psychological proximity, intention toward physical fitness and subjective norms of the subjects did not affect their attitudes towards physical fitness or their intention to participate in exercise or physical fitness activities in the future. Therefore, the influence of group identification with other older adults of the same age on empathy allowed the subjects to understand the problematic aspects of physical fitness. Group identification among the subjects allowed them to adjust to their physical fitness problems through sympathy. It mediated the physical fitness problems of the subjects through the ageism effect.

Moral responses to the COVID-19 crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised complex moral dilemmas that have been the subject of extensive public debate. Here, we study how people judge a set of controversial actions related to the crisis: relaxing data privacy standards to allow public control of the pandemic, forbidding public gatherings, denouncing a friend who violated COVID-19 protocols, prioritizing younger over older patients when medical resources are scarce, and reducing animal rights to accelerate vaccine development. We collected acceptability judgements in an initial large-scale study with participants from 10 Latin American countries (N = 15 420). A formal analysis of the intrinsic correlations between responses to different dilemmas revealed that judgements were organized in two dimensions: one that reflects a focus on human life expectancy and one that cares about the health of all sentient lives in an equitable manner. These stereotyped patterns of responses were stronger in people who endorsed utilitarian decisions in a standardized scale. A second pre-registered study performed in the USA (N = 1300) confirmed the replicability of these findings. Finally, we show how the prioritization of public health correlated with several contextual, personality and demographic factors. Overall, this research sheds light on the relationship between utilitarian decision-making and moral responses to the COVID-19 crisis.

Ageism as a Modifying Influence on COVID-19 Health Beliefs and Intention to Social Distance

Objectives: Commentaries have suggested that initial emphasis on the higher susceptibility and mortality rates of older adults to COVID-19 has instigated ageism within the public discourse and policy decisions. Using the health belief model, the current study examined ageism in interaction with other factors influencing intention to social distance. Methods: Threat of contracting COVID-19, benefits and barriers to social distancing, benevolent and hostile ageism, and intention to social distance were examined in 960 adults (M = 37.81 years, SD = 11.65). Results: Benevolent and hostile ageism were significant moderators for both perceived threat and barriers on intent to social distance; hostile ageism also moderated benefits on intent to social distance. Discussion: The current study demonstrates how ageism influences behavior during a pandemic. With initial reports of COVID-19 presenting older adults as a homogenous group, ageism negatively interacted with intention to social distance and may place older adults at greater risk.

Gender difference about death anxiety among older adults: Structural Equation Model

BACKGROUND

Older adults may be more prone to death anxiety than their younger counterparts. This study explores factors affecting death anxiety based on gender differences.

METHODS

In this correlational study, 450 older adults referred to the health centres in the city of Bukan, Iran were recruited by using a randomised sampling method. Next, data were collected about the demographic questionnaire, anxiety about ageing, death anxiety, mental well-being, perceived social support, and quality of life questionnaire. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to determine the correlation between variables, and the predictors of death anxiety were evaluated using quintile regression. Relationship between death anxiety and other variables was evaluated by the Structural Equation Model (SEM). The study was approved by the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee (Ethics Code: IR.TBZMED.REC.1397.304).

RESULTS

The results showed that death anxiety in men had a significant relationship with the level of literacy (P = 0.047), body self-imaging (P = 0.031), and perceived social activity (P = 0.033). Among women, death anxiety had a significant relationship with physical activity (P = 0.007) and perceived social activity (P = 0.002). Additionally, quintile regression analysis was calculated: among men, anxiety about ageing was related to death anxiety (β = 0.182, P = 0.05), while in women, only perceived social support was associated to death anxiety (β = -0.376, P = 0.05). Finally, according to SEM, a significantly different level of predictability of mental well-being was found for death anxiety among older men and women.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the gender differences about death anxiety by the healthcare system might be useful in controlling and reducing a variety of concerns among elders who experience high levels of anxiety of death.

Quality of Gerontological Nursing and Ageism: What Factors Influence on Nurses' Ageism in South Korea?

With the aging of the population, age-related problems are emerging, which has caused age discrimination. Particularly, most nurses care for a large number of old patients in the clinical setting. Nurses' attitude toward the clients has a significant effect on the quality of nursing, so it is time to identify their perspective to the aged. The quality of nursing could greatly depend on who provides and how to provide care. If older patients meet nursing staff with an ageist perspective, whether intentionally or unintentionally, they experience negative attitudes toward them during served health care, and trust cannot be formed, resulting in a deterioration in the quality of medical services. This study aimed to identify factors influencing nurses' ageism attitudes. A total of 162 general hospital nurses completed a questionnaire consisting of the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS), the Contact with Elderly People (CEP), the Anxiety about Aging Scale (AAS), and the Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé post hoc, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS/WIN 26.0 program. The average score of FSA was 2.63 ± 0.36 (range 1-4); FSA showed a statistical difference according to cohabitation with an old adult in the past (t = 2.42, p = 0.017). Factors influencing FSA were the fear of old people (β = 0.34, p < 0.001) and fear of loss (β = 0.28, p < 0.001) of the AAS; and these variables explained 21.1% of FSA (F = 22.56, p < 0.001). Based on these results, the development and application of nursing education focused on intergenerational contact is needed in order to reduce the anxiety about aging and to acquire a high quality of gerontological nursing with a reduction of ageism.

Ageism as a Modifying Influence on COVID-19 Health Beliefs and Intention to Social Distance

Objectives: Commentaries have suggested that initial emphasis on the higher susceptibility and mortality rates of older adults to COVID-19 has instigated ageism within the public discourse and policy decisions. Using the health belief model, the current study examined ageism in interaction with other factors influencing intention to social distance. Methods: Threat of contracting COVID-19, benefits and barriers to social distancing, benevolent and hostile ageism, and intention to social distance were examined in 960 adults (M = 37.81 years, SD = 11.65). Results: Benevolent and hostile ageism were significant moderators for both perceived threat and barriers on intent to social distance; hostile ageism also moderated benefits on intent to social distance. Discussion: The current study demonstrates how ageism influences behavior during a pandemic. With initial reports of COVID-19 presenting older adults as a homogenous group, ageism negatively interacted with intention to social distance and may place older adults at greater risk.

Ageism and the Factors Affecting Ageism among Korean Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

With the increasing population of older adults, ageism is an obstacle to health equity and can negatively affect older adults’ quality of life and nursing care. This study aims to examine the level of ageism and the factors associated with ageism among nursing college students, who will become the main workforce for gerontological nursing. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 238 nursing students in two nursing colleges in South Korea. The total score for ageism was 37.06 (SD 5.94) out of a maximum of 72. In the multiple regression model, the predictors of ageism were aging anxiety (β = 0.420, p < 0.001), frequency of contact (β = −0.204, p < 0.001), preference for gerontological nursing (β = 0.150, p = 0.003), age (β = 0.145, p = 0.003), and quality of contact (β = −0.143, p = 0.030), revealing that these were factors influencing ageism in the evaluated nursing students. The results suggest that tailored gerontological education programs or community link programs in the nursing curriculum are necessary to share feelings of contact, increase positive experiences with older adults, and reduce anxiety about aging.

The influence of ageism on stereotypical attitudes among allied health students in Japan: a group comparison design

BACKGROUND

Ageism is a serious problem in medical care. The importance of ageism-related education for students has been emphasized. To determine the most effective approach to ageism-related education for allied health students, this study examined ageism among this group of students, with the hypothesis that ageism was expressed not only toward elderly adults but also toward individuals other than elderly adults.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was conducted among 154 allied health students in Japan. The questionnaire involved tree drawings to evaluate the drawer's personality and a measurement of the participants' ageism. There were two display conditions for tree drawing. In the elderly display condition, participants were informed that the drawer was an elderly person, and in a control condition, participants were not informed of the drawer's age. Participants were randomly assigned to each condition and were required to evaluate the drawer's personality based on 5 personality traits. After the evaluation, all participants were required to complete the Japanese short version of the Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA-J).

RESULTS

The participants were 123 allied health students, 61 of whom were in the elderly display condition and 62 of whom were in the control condition. Based on the mean score on the FSA-J (M = 29.80), we divided the participants into a low-FSA-J group (N = 64) and a high-FSA-J group (N = 59). There was no significant difference between the display conditions on the FSA-J score. In the high-FSA-J groups, the control condition evaluated the drawer's personality as more timid than did the elderly display condition (F = 4.26, df = 1, 119). For negligence, the high-FSA-J group evaluated the drawer's personality as more negligent than did the low-FSA-J group (F = 4.08). For broad interests, the main effects of condition and groups were significant (F = 4.23).

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggested that ageism indicated a negative evaluation not only of elderly adults but also of individuals other than elderly adults, and students with negative ageism might evaluate the elderly drawer more positively. We have discussed the possibility that negative ageism among allied health students in Japan might underlie these positive stereotypes.

Personality traits and fears of death and dying predict ageism

Ageism, or the discriminative attitudes toward specific age groups, often older adults, is a common prejudice with many negative consequences. This study explored the relationships between personality, fears of death and dying, and subscales of ageism (i.e., Avoidance, Discrimination, and Antilocution). Participants (N = 436) completed measures of personality, death and dying fears, and ageism. Multiple linear regressions showed that agreeableness, openness, and fearing others' death were negatively associated with ageism, whereas fearing the dying process of others was positively associated with ageism. This study demonstrates the distinct effects of personality and fears of death and dying on ageism.

Older people and death-thought accessibility: The association between death and older people in memory

This work aimed to conceptually replicate and extend Martens, Greenberg, Schimel, and Landau's findings about older people as threatening future self. We conducted two studies using a lexical decision task to measure death-thought accessibility. Results showed that older people primes lead to stronger facilitation of death-related compared, with negative words. Such a facilitation is not observed with young people primes (Study 1). Moreover, the automatic association between the representation of older people and death was stronger when participants and older people primes were of the same sex (Study 2). Implications of these findings with respect to ageism are discussed.

Determinants of Ageism against Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Ageism is a widespread phenomenon and constitutes a significant threat to older people's well-being. Identifying the factors contributing to ageism is critical to inform policies that minimise its societal impact. In this systematic review, we gathered and summarised empirical studies exploring the key determinants of ageism against older people for a period of over forty years (1970-2017). A comprehensive search using fourteen databases identified all published records related to the umbrella concept of "ageism". Reviewers independently screened the final pool to identify all papers focusing on determinants, according to a predefined list of inclusion and exclusion criteria. All relevant information was extracted and summarised following a narrative synthesis approach. A total of 199 papers were included in this review. We identified a total of 14 determinants as robustly associated with ageism. Of these, 13 have an effect on other-directed ageism, and one on self-directed ageism. The quality of contact with older people and the positive or negative presentation of older people to others emerged as the most robust determinants of other-directed ageism; self-directed ageism is mostly determined by older adults' health status. Given the correlational nature of most studies included in this review, inferences on causality should be made cautiously.

Sticks and Stones: Perceived Age Discrimination, Well-Being, and Health Over a 20-Year Period

This study examines associations between perceived day-to-day age discrimination, positive well-being, and physical health over a 20-year span. Data came from all three waves of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (1995–2014). Generalized structural equation modeling was used to analyze 6,016 observations of 3,102 participants and test associations between age discrimination and (a) psychological well-being and positive affect, and (b) self-rated health, instrumental activities of daily living, and chronic conditions. Associations were also examined between the well-being measures and all three health outcomes. Between-persons and within-persons effects were modeled separately but simultaneously. Both between-persons and within-persons results revealed numerous significant associations between age discrimination and physical health, although results were stronger between-persons. Moreover, hypothesized associations of age discrimination with well-being, and of well-being with physical health, were supported both between- and within-persons. Findings suggest diminished well-being may be one mechanism whereby age discrimination harms health.

The Role of Personality in Becoming Aware of Age-Related Changes

Awareness of age-related change (AARC) refers to an individual's conscious knowledge about the gains and losses resulting from growing older. Personality traits reflect dispositional patterns of behavior, perception, and evaluation and should therefore influence the experience of AARC. The 4.5-year longitudinal study examines this association between personality traits and AARC in a sample of 423 individuals aged 40 to 98 years (M = 62.9 years) using latent change analyses. After controlling for sex, health, and education, a different pattern of associations for cross-sectional vs. longitudinal relations. Cross-sectionally, neuroticism was positively related to AARC losses, whereas openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism were positively related to AARC gains. Longitudinally, the impact of personality traits on change in AARC was rather limited with only higher conscientiousness acting as a predictor of decreases in AARC losses over time. Overall, the findings add to the existing literature on associations between personality traits and subjective aging. Specifically, the results indicate that personality traits are differentially related to awareness of age-related gains in comparison to awareness of age-related losses.

Ageism in an Aging Society: The Role of Knowledge, Anxiety about Aging, and Stereotypes in Young People and Adults

The progressive aging of society, caused by profound demographic changes, brings with it the necessity of confronting the subject of biases against the elderly. Ageism, in fact, can influence society’s attitudes regarding this population, in addition to impacting the self-perception of elderly people. This, in turn, has consequences for positive outcomes during the aging process. The current research aims to investigate the simultaneous relationships between knowledge, age, anxiety about aging, and stereotypes toward the elderly, as well as their predictive roles with respect to ageism. A self-report questionnaire was administered to 886 participants, with an average age of 35.8 years (Standard Deviation—SD = 14.2), predominantly female (64.8%). Descriptive and correlational analyses were performed, along with structural equation modeling. Based on the analyses conducted, anxiety about aging and knowledge are antecedents for stereotypes, which in turn, together with the other variables, influence ageism. Increased education about the aging process could help reduce anxiety and stereotypes against the aging among those who are most responsible for prejudice against the elderly. Knowledge of the antecedents of prejudice toward the elderly is fundamental to promoting positive attitudes toward them.

Aging Expectations and Attitudes: Associations With Types of Older Adult Contact

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the role of contact with older adults in explaining expectations about aging and attitudes toward own aging.

METHOD

A representative sample of 3,026 U.S. adults aged 30-89 years completed a survey online or by telephone. The survey assessed types of contact with older adults, anticipated need for help during aging, and attitudes toward their own aging.

RESULTS

Relative to older adults' (65+ years) need for help with finances, activities of daily living, social support, and health care during aging, 30- to 64-year-old adults overestimated their expected need for help. Contact with dependent older adults was associated with greater overestimation. Diverse types of contact with older adults were associated with increased positivity toward one's own aging.

DISCUSSION

Aging expectations may be ameliorated by exposure to diverse exemplars of aging. Future research should quantify effects of exposure types on both negative and positive attitudes toward own aging.

Social exclusion in old age: a validation study in Hong Kong

OBJECTIVES

To validate a measure of social exclusion for older people based on one already in use for the general population.

METHODS

A random sample of 2281 older adults (age ranged from 65 to 89; mean age = 74.9; 52.6% females) were successfully interviewed face-to-face at their homes. The structured questionnaire included household income, household expenditure, asset, self-perceived poverty, household composition, socioeconomic characteristics of participants, and a measure of social exclusion.

RESULTS

Using factor analysis, we identified two dimensions in the measure of social exclusion, namely 'neighborhood exclusion' and 'limited social participation.' The internal consistency of the social exclusion index (Cronbach's alpha = 0.80) and its two dimensions were found to be adequate (Cronbach's alpha = 0.81-0.84). Its concurrent validity was also good and showed a significant correlation between household income (r = 0.28, p < 0.01), personal assets (r = 0.34, p < 0.01), and self-perceived poverty (r = 0.43, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that it is possible to develop a social exclusion measure that is valid and reliable for older Hong Kong Chinese people. This measure can help policy-makers decide on the priorities and develop policies that better meet the needs of older people.

Aging Anxieties and Disturbed Eating in Female Students: It's not all About Aging Appearance Concern

Fear and anxiety about aging have increased amongst female university students and these personal aging concerns are associated with disturbed eating, also prevalent in this group. Evidence suggests concern about aging appearance could account for the link between aging anxiety and problem eating in young women due to their belief in the thin – youth ideal. However, whether appearance concern is the strongest aging anxiety predictor of global and specific disturbed eating behaviors is unclear. The study examines this in a sample of female students at a Midlands university in the United Kingdom (N = 200, 18 – 39 years) who completed the Anxiety about Aging Scale and the Eating Disorders Inventory-3. The findings show general and a model of four aging anxieties predicted significantly greater global disturbed eating with medium and large effects sizes respectively. However, greater anxiety about the psychological challenges and interpersonal losses associated with aging best predicted global and specific disturbed eating behaviors and aging appearance concern was a weaker predictor. Implications for interventions targeting female students eating behavior are considered.

Impact of Contact With Grandparents on Children's and Adolescents' Views on the Elderly

Stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination against the elderly (ageism) may manifest themselves in children at an early age. However, the factors influencing this phenomenon are not well known. Using both explicit and open-ended questions, this study analyzed the influence of personal and familial parameters on the views of 1,151 seven- to sixteen-year-old Belgian children and adolescents on the elderly. Four factors were found to affect these views: gender (girls had slightly more positive views than boys), age (ageism was lowest in 10- to 12-year-old, reminiscent of other forms of stereotypes and cognitive developmental theories), grandparents' health, and most importantly, quality of contact with grandparents (very good and good contacts correlated with more favorable feelings toward the elderly, especially in children with frequent contacts).

Determinants of undergraduate nursing students' care willingness towards the elderly in China: Attitudes, gratitude and knowledge

BACKGROUND

An aging population has become a serious problem in China. Improving the nursing students' care willingness is a critical way to solve this dilemma. Few studies reveal the relationship between the knowledge, care willingness, attitude towards the elderly and gratitude. This research has found that the attitude towards the elderly, the knowledge about aging, and gratitude showed correlation with care willingness.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationships among knowledge about aging, care willingness, attitude towards the elderly and gratitude.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional descriptive design has been used.

METHODS

From November to December 2015, a total of 382 undergraduate nursing students in China completed the questionnaires. The response rate was 95.5%. Four questionnaires including Care Willingness to the Elderly Scale (CW), Kogan's Attitudes towards Old People scale (KAOP), the Facts on Aging Quiz (FAQ), and the Gratitude Scale. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to explore the relationship among those variables in this study.

RESULTS

For Chinese nursing students, the care willingness of elderly was in medium-high level. Their attitude towards the elderly and gratitude were at the medium degree, while the knowledge about aging was at a lower level. The attitude towards older people, knowledge about aging, and gratitude were significantly correlated with care willingness. The knowledge about aging has no relationship with the attitude. Gratitude plays a mediation role between the knowledge about aging and care willingness. The experience of caring the elderly could lead to a positive impact in care willingness.

CONCLUSIONS

The nursing students' knowledge about aging had a direct influence on their care willingness. Gratitude plays a mediating role between the knowledge about aging and care willingness to the elderly.

Direct and extended intergenerational contact and young people's attitudes towards older adults

Research suggests that positive intergenerational contact can improve young people's attitudes towards older adults. However, today's age‐segregated society may not provide ample opportunities for positive contact between younger and older adults to occur on a regular basis. In three studies, we investigated whether the positive attitudinal outcomes associated with direct contact might also stem from a more indirect form of intergenerational relationship: extended contact. In Study 1 (N = 70), extended contact was associated with more positive attitudes towards older adults even when controlling for direct intergenerational contact (contact frequency and contact quality). In Study 2 (N = 110), the positive effects of direct and extended contact on young people's age‐related attitudes were mediated by reductions in intergroup anxiety and ageing anxiety. The mediational effects of intergroup anxiety were replicated in Study 3 (N = 95) and ingroup norms additionally emerged as a mediator of the positive effects of extended contact on young people's attitudes towards older adults. Discussion focuses on the implications for strategies aimed at tackling ageism.

Ageist attitudes block young adults' ability for compassion toward incapacitated older adults

BACKGROUND

Upon encountering older adults, individuals display varying degrees of prosocial attitudes and behaviors. While some display compassion and empathy, others draw away and wish to maintain their distance from them. The current study examined if and how ageist attitudes influence the association between the sight of physical incapacity in older age and compassionate reactions toward them. We predicted that ageist attitudes would interfere with the ability to respond to them with compassion.

METHODS

Young adults (N = 149, ages 19-29) were randomly distributed into two experimental conditions, each viewing a short video portraying different aspects of older adult physicality; one group viewed older adults displaying incapacitated behavior, and the other viewed fit behavior. Participants subsequently filled out scales assessing aging anxieties, and ageist and compassionate attitudes.

RESULTS

Ageism was associated with reduced compassion toward the figures. Moreover, viewing incapacitated older adults led to increased concern toward them and perceived efficacy in helping them. However, significant interactions proved that higher scores of ageism in response to the videos led to increased need for distance and reduced efficacy toward incapacitated adults, an effect not observed among subjects with lower ageism scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Ageism seems to be a factor which disengages individuals from older adults displaying fragility, leading them to disregard social norms which dictate compassion. The results are discussed from the framework of terror management theory, as increased mortality salience and death-related thoughts could have led to the activation of negative attitudes which, in turn, reduce compassion.

One size doesn’t fit all

Much of the research on the effects of age in the workplace has ignored the role of contextual factors, and the intersection of multiple group identities. In seeking to address these shortcomings, we provide a theoretical integration and review. First, we review the literature on contextual factors that determine age salience. We then provide a review of the major and competing theories on the consequences of multiple subordinate group status on work outcomes. Finally, we seek to integrate these multiple streams of thought into a unified framework, by identifying when and how competing aspects of group membership become salient, and the consequences of category membership constellations for various subgroups of older workers. A theoretical framework and accompanying propositions are presented.