Aging in America: Ageism and General Attitudes toward Growing Old and the Elderly

Abstract

Ageism is the one form of social prejudice that people from all social backgrounds have to deal with. We live in a world where youth is valued over old age and where old people are often mistreated and negatively stereotyped. Major social institutions are largely behind these negative attitudes toward the elderly, particularly the mass media. The current study examined people's attitudes and feelings about the elderly and about growing old. Survey data were collected on 154 respondents living in Southern California. Respondents provided information on their feelings and attitudes about the elderly and about how society views and treats the elderly. Respondents also provided information about their feelings, attitudes, and fears about growing old themselves. The data revealed that there is a general sense of ambivalence about the elderly and about growing old. Although the findings were mixed, young people appear to have more negative feelings in general and there appears to be a greater concern among women about growing old. Native Americans and Middle Eastern respondents had the most favorable views about the elderly. The findings of the study support the position that ageism is still a social problem and that most people have somewhat mixed feelings about the elderly and about growing old. Future research should look further at how the mass media and larger cultural stereotypes and attitudes affect the lives, functioning, and treatment of our eldest members of society.

Perception of Old Age by the Inhabitants of Poland

“…Similar results were obtained by other researchers who had previously analyzed this phenomenon in Poland [17]. However, different attitudes were adopted by young Americans, as they showed a higher level of negative attitudes toward the elderly [7]. The results of this study did not show an association between respondents' sex and marital status and their attitudes toward the elderly.…”

“…They both lead to shaping specific attitudes toward seniors. These attitudes may range from negative, e.g., gerontophobia or ageism, to positive, e.g., respect, admiration for experience, wisdom, kindness, dependability, affluence, political power, freedom, eternal youth, and happiness [6][7][8][9][10]. Importantly, self-esteem is considered to be the factor with the greatest influence on the mental sphere of the elderly [11], as self-esteem tends to decrease in old age [12].…”

Healthy ageing in the far North: perspectives and prescriptions

“…The participants highlighted contentment with one's stage of life and an enjoyment of older age as important to healthy ageing. We found this perspective to contrast with the negative stereotypes of ageing that frequently impact perspectives towards the ageing process [35]. Additionally, research demonstrates that certain factors such as financial security and the ability to live comfortably, access to public services and quality medical care, as well community involvement, among many others, contribute to happiness and well-being in old age [36].…”

Shaping attitudes: The association between prior contact with residential aged care and resistance to enter residential aged care

“…Negative attitudes towards RAC are prevalent and largely overlooked (Angus & Reeve, ; Berger, ). To date, studies have not examined whether contact with RAC is associated with individuals’ positive or negative attitudes towards entering RAC in the future.…”

“…Studies have predominantly explored resistance towards ageing as an attitudinal variable (Adelman, Greene, & Charont, ; Angus & Reeve, ; Berger, ). For example, awareness of one's own mortality is associated with higher levels of anxiety (Chonody, Webb, Ranzijn, & Bryan, ).…”