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.

Being old is to lose memory, to have wrinkles and also white hair" ("Maria", 6 years old). "I think that when we became old we can and we know a lot of things to teach to the future generation of the family ("Pedro", 11 years old). Age is a fundamental dimension along which children organize their perceptions of people in their social world (Lewis and Brooks-Gunnn 1979). According to Levy (2009), stereotypes about the ageing process and, more specifically, about older people, become internalized across the life span in two fundamental ways: topdown (from society to individuals) and over time (from childhood to old age). As people age, stereotypes internalized during childhood and adulthood tend to eventually become self-stereotypes leading to often negative outcomes for older people (Levy 1996, 2003). Four main stereotypes against older people seem to be prevalent in society: (1) older people are generally depressed and lonely lacking family and close friends and having mood disorders; (2) older people constitute a homogeneous group and ageing is perceived as a unidimensional and unidirectional process; (3) older people are frail, sick and dependent on others; and (4) older people are seen as having cognitive and psychological limitations (Whitbourne and Sneed 2002). Several studies have shown that the mere exposure to negative stereotypical traits of old age (e.g., ill, dying, forgetful) has severe negative effects on older persons in multiple domains such as memory performance, stress levels and the

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The SeniorTec program was carried out in the framework of the European project Cordon Gris, its objective was to promote intergenerational relationships. The activity was hosted by the old persons who participate in the European project Cordon Gris and was attended by university students from Higher School of Health of Alcoitão and ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon. Learning sessions were delivered in this action: a Nutrition Workshop and a Financial Education Workshop. After this, an intergenerational contact session took place by using the Cordon Gris app. The SeniorTec program could promote a more positive image of aging and deconstruct negative stereotypes. Valuing older people in technology can act as a powerful vehicle to improve images of aging and to encourage intergenerational contact

Existem evidências de que crianças a partir dos seis anos de idade já partilham a conceção paternalista das pessoas mais velhas como “simpáticas, mas incompetentes”. De forma inovadora, o presente trabalho visa estudar este tema no contexto português procurando explorar o papel da frequência e qualidade do contacto com os avós como uma via para a diminuição destas representações negativas. Para tal, 145 crianças do ensino básico (M = 12.14; SD = 0.81) responderam a um inquérito com o intuito de explorar a relação entre estas variáveis. De acordo com as hipóteses, os resultados revelaram um elevado grau de contacto com os avós e um efeito significativo da frequência e da qualidade do contacto na diminuição do idadismo face às pessoas idosas. Estes resultados são discutidos à luz das suas implicações para a teoria e intervenção neste domínio de relevância crucial no contexto demográfico atual.