Stereotypes of Older Adults: Development and Evaluation of an Updated Stereotype Content and Strength Survey

Abstract

Background and Objectives Stereotypes are beliefs about a particular group often adopted to bypass complex information processing. Like racism and other forms of discrimination, ageism affects individuals and society as a whole. The purpose of the study was to analyze the Stereotype Content and Strength Survey (SCSS) designed to update assessment tools commonly used to measure stereotypes of older adults. Research Design and Methods An updated survey was developed including aging-related descriptive items from previously published studies. Students enrolled at two Midwestern universities (n = 491) were directed to think about their perceptions of “older adults” and select the proportion they believed could be described by the items used in the tool. Response categories for each descriptive item were dichotomized and operationalized to be a strong stereotype if the collapsed response percentage was significantly ≥80%. Results A Principal Axis Factor analysis and Direct Oblim rotation was computed on 117 descriptive items representing positive, negative, and physical characteristics, resulting in a 3-factor model with acceptable psychometric properties. Cronbach alpha analyses revealed reliable scales for negative (α = .92), positive (α = .88), and physical (α = .81) stereotypes. Of 117 descriptive items, 33 emerged as strong stereotypes including 30 positive, 2 physical, and 1 negative item. Discussion and Implications This updated assessment has the potential to contribute to an understanding of the existence of age-related stereotypes as well as the strength, or the proportion of older adults who could be described by each of the items used in the SCSS.

Spotlight on Age: An Overlooked Construct in Medical Sociology

“…This research is limited, however, by ageism’s treatment as a phenomenon operating at the individual rather than structural level—a framing that reflects the origin of the term over 50 years ago. As described by Robert Butler (1969:243), a psychiatrist and founding director of the National Institute on Aging who coined the term, ageism is “prejudice by one age group toward other age groups” that reflects “a deep seated uneasiness on the part of the young and middle-aged—a personal revulsion to and distaste for growing old, disease, disability; and fear of powerlessness, ‘uselessness,’ and death.” Reflecting this focus, studies of ageism found in gerontology tend to refer to “age stereotypes” or “perceptions,” described as either “negative” or “positive” (e.g., Carlson et al 2020; Levy 2009; Palmore 2001)—terms that elide the inequality they reflect. Although references to ageism are more common in recent years, these studies, too, tend to focus on individual attitudes and behaviors (e.g., Cary, Chasteen, and Remedios 2017; Gendron et al 2020), giving limited attention to systemic or structural ageism embedded in policies, laws, and institutions.…”

“You’ve Got to Be Old to Go There”: Psychosocial Barriers and Facilitators to Social Eating in Older Adults

“…In relation to this second theme, it is clear that a balance needs to be found between providing clarity about who the social eating activity is aimed at while ensuring that labels and images do not put people off attending. Thus, avoiding terms, such as old, elderly, lonely or senior and, instead, advertising pictures of a range of people standing up or engaging in actives, and targeting more positive stereotypes of older people (Carlson et al, 2019), could help to change the image of luncheon clubs. Even avoiding more old-fashioned terms such as "luncheon clubs", and replacing them with the terms such as "shared meal", "eat with friends" or "come to play cards and have a meal" places the focus more on fun and youthful aspects that may also encourage men and women to attend.…”

Attitudes of children towards the elderly - children between of 3 and 10 years old

“…E-mail: carlasilviaf@gmail.com Editor Científico: Cristiane Helena Gallasch; Editor Associado: Magda Guimarães de Araujo Faria Atitudes de crianças em relação aos idosos DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12957/reuerj.2021. 62723 Rev enferm UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, 2021; 29:e62723 p.2 A construção dessas representações sociais é apreendida em grupos e experiências sociais e, então, repetida ao longo da vivência desses indivíduos 3 , onde o estereótipo formado irá contribuir para o desenvolvimento de atitudes e influenciar o seu comportamento 5 . Os estereótipos podem restringir atitudes que criam uma valorização geral de uma pessoa ou grupo de pessoas que influenciam as respostas emocionais, cognitivas e comportamentais a outras pessoas ou grupos de pessoas 6 .…”