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Both benevolent and hostile ageism can have deleterious effects on older adults. Given the explicit ageist messages in the media, we anticipated increases in both benevolent and hostile ageism in the context of COVID-19. Moreover, we predicted that age and initial COVID-related concerns would influence both initial levels and change over time in ageism, with younger adults and those who were more concerned about COVID-19 exhibiting higher levels of both types of ageism. Adults (N = 325, M age = 39.7) were surveyed at 5 time points across the first 4 months of the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. A series of growth curve analyses was conducted to examine individual differences in ageism and change over time for each type of ageism. We were able to detect individual differences in both benevolent and hostile ageism. Benevolent ageism and hostile ageism decreased over time. Although age and COVID-19 concerns were associated with initial levels of ageism, neither influenced the rate of change. Our results demonstrate that benevolent ageism and hostile ageism decreased over the first 4 months of the U.S. pandemic. As a dynamic situation, changes may require a longer period of time in order to be detected.What is the significance of this article for the general public?Despite the warnings of the scientific community to be mindful of potential increases in ageist attitudes, our data-driven approach suggests relatively small changes in ageism during these early days of the pandemic, while highlighting the need for increased specificity regarding the nature of these ageist beliefs. We hope that these findings support data-driven public advocacy.

Evidence suggests that positive emotions may broaden and build our emotional and physical health, and cognitive resources (Fredrickson, 2001). A growing literature shows that happiness and joy can be powerful means for growth. In contrast to happiness, which pushes one to expand and accommodate, research suggests that awe, that feeling of being in the presence of something immense or transcendent, prompts the urge to assimilate. Although promising, few examinations have included older adults and a limited range of positive emotions have been examined. Thus, we sought to address this gap in the literature by assessing the influence of age and awe on emotional well-being. Data from 180 adults (M age ~ 38; range 18 – 89) were used to examine the main effects of age and dispositional awe (Shiota et al., 2006), and their interaction, on emotional well-being. Only 12% of the variance was explained [X2 (DF = 9) = 344.27, p < .001]. Awe was positively associated with emotional well-being (Beta = .280*), but neither age nor the interaction between age and awe contributed to the variance explained. We conducted a similar examination with perceived cognitive health [X2 (DF=9) = 337.09, p < .001; R^2 = .235]. A main effect for age and a significant age by awe interaction uniquely contributed to the variance explained in cognitive well-being. A similar model was tested with self-assessed health as the outcome. Neither main effects nor the interaction emerged as significant. Results are discussed within the context of age-invariant contributors to well-being.

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