The interaction between aging and death anxieties predicts ageism

Ageism in Mental Health Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults

“…These concerns act as stressors that increase sensitivity to physical symptoms (Poon and Knight 2009), and become associated with higher levels of depression during midlife (Barrett and Robbins 2008), as well as with other symptoms of mental distress (Bodner et al 2015b). Of note, these findings are also consistent with the behavioral model of late life depression (Fiske et al 2009), which regards negative cognitions about the self and the future as risk factors for depression in late life.…”

Personality traits and fears of death and dying predict ageism

“…The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the fear of death and dying, and ageism, while also accounting for personality traits, age, and gender. The present study extended existing evidence (e.g., Allan et al, 2014;Bodner et al, 2015) by including multidimensional measures of fears of death and dying and ageism, allowing for an in-depth examination of these relationships. In line with existing evidence from TMT, we hypothesized that all fears of death and dying would contribute to higher scores of ageism.…”

“…Furthermore, the dying process, in this context, refers to the pain and deterioration of the body and mind, a process that could potentially be falsely generalized to the aging process and, therefore, older adults (Palmore, 1999). In light of past findings indicating the role of the fear of death and aging anxiety in predicting ageism (Allan et al, 2014;Bodner et al, 2015), it may be that individuals falsely associate the aging process with the dying process, a perception that would further increase ageism.…”

“…Several studies have examined the relationship between TMT and ageism (Allan et al, 2014;Bodner et al, 2015;Greenberg et al, 2017;Martens et al, 2005). Bodner et al (2015), for example, had participants aged 50-86 years complete measures of death anxiety, aging anxiety and ageism.…”

“…Several studies have examined the relationship between TMT and ageism (Allan et al, 2014;Bodner et al, 2015;Greenberg et al, 2017;Martens et al, 2005). Bodner et al (2015), for example, had participants aged 50-86 years complete measures of death anxiety, aging anxiety and ageism. Results showed differential effects of aging anxiety and death anxiety on ageism, such that when scores on death anxiety were low, aging anxiety was positively associated with ageism and when aging anxiety scores were low, death anxiety was positively associated with ageism.…”