A Terror Management Perspective on Young Adults’ Ageism and Attitudes Toward Dementia

Abstract

According to Terror Management Theory as applied to ageism, older adults may be associated with mortality, thereby generating death-thought accessibility, stereotypes, and mixed emotions among younger adults. However, it is unclear how older adults' health conditions, such as dementia, affect ageist attitudes and mortality salience. In the current study, college student participants (N ¼ 240) read descriptions of hypothetical target persons. Target age (29 or 71) and health status (normal, unknown, arthritis, or dementia) were manipulated. Participants then rated targets on stereotype content dimensions of competence and warmth; rated their emotions toward the targets; and completed a measure of death-thought accessibility. Results (p < .05 for all) indicated that, relative to younger targets, older targets triggered lower competence ratings, higher warmth ratings, greater deaththought accessibility, and more empathy and pity. Targets with dementia generated lower competence ratings, higher warmth ratings, greater death-thought accessibility, and more fear, empathy, and pity than targets with normal and=or unknown health. Older targets with dementia (i.e., Alzheimer's disease) received higher pity ratings than all other targets, and participants reported more death-related thoughts for older vs. younger targets with dementia. The current study supports Terror Management Theory as an explanation for ageism, and illustrates how ageism among young adults is affected by health conditions like dementia.

Perceived Age Discrimination: A Precipitator or a Consequence of Depressive Symptoms?

“…White older adults, on the other hand, are less likely to report depressive symptoms compared with ethnic minorities (Ayalon & Gum, 2011). Finally, poor medical status, poor cognitive status and functional impairment have all shown to be associated with depression (ChangQuan et al, 2010;Jackson et al, 2014;Rock, Roiser, Riedel, & Blackwell, 2014;Wilson et al, 2002) as well as with discrimination (Gekoski & Knox, 1990;Jönson & Larsson, 2009;O'Connor & McFadden, 2012). Although these variables are not the focus of the present study, they are used as control variables in order to assess the net prospective associations of perceived age discrimination and depressive symptoms.…”

Do not hear, see, or speak: views of older residents and their adult children about the nursing unit in the continuing care retirement community

“…It is important to note, however, that such stigma is not unique to older adults. In fact, younger adults, as well, tend to be highly stigmatized toward older adults in general, and even more so, toward older adults with disability or sickness (O'Connor and McFadden, 2012;John, 2013).…”

Perspective Taking and Empathic Emotions in Letters Written by Grandchildren to Their Grandparent With Dementia Versus Grandparent Without Dementia

“…On the other hand, witnessing progression of negative symptoms in a person with dementia can make it difficult for family members and professionals to recognize and validate the perceptions of the person with dementia (Slone & Gleason, 1999) and to anticipate his or her needs (Celdrán et al, 2012), which can lead to communication breakdown, distress, and misunderstanding (Eggenberger, Heimerl, & Bennett, 2013; O’Connor & McFadden, 2012). The reduction in perspective taking can ultimately lead to avoidance of face-to-face interactions with the family member with dementia in intergenerational relationships (Miron et al, 2019).…”