Toward interventions to reduce internalized ageism

Steward, Andrew

doi:10.1080/10911359.2021.1898516

Cited by 22 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 105 publications

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“…The practical implication of this study emphasizes the importance of changing negative views of aging not only in older people but also in younger adults for their own good, as well as for the greater good. Interventions to reduce negative age beliefs should be implemented at the micro, meso, and macro levels (Steward, 2022). In addition, potential routes for changing negative age beliefs include increasing the knowledge of children and young adults about old age, providing opportunities for intergenerational contact, and adjusting the description and portrayal of middle-aged and older adults in the media (Kotter-Grühn, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in essentialist beliefs about cognitive aging predicts changes in mental health: Evidence from a 10-year longitudinal study.

Prati

2024

Psychology and Aging

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The belief that aging-related cognitive decline is inevitable is associated with impaired cognitive performance of older adults. Little is, however, known about the association between changes in essentialist beliefs about cognitive aging and mental health in the long term and among both younger and older adults. From a theoretical perspective, it would be expected that changes in essentialist beliefs about cognitive aging predict changes in mental health among older adults compared to younger adults. These differential associations have not yet been prospectively investigated. Using longitudinal data, the association between changes in essentialist beliefs about cognitive aging and mental health outcomes and the moderation effect of age were assessed. Mental health includes well-being and mental illness (depression, anxiety, and panic symptoms). Data from adult participants (n = 4,963 with a mean age of 55.41 years, range 28-84 years) in a U.S. national longitudinal study were analyzed. A series of two-wave latent change score models indicated that changes in essentialist beliefs about cognitive aging are associated with changes in well-being and mental illness. Age did not moderate the relationship between changes in essentialist beliefs about aging and changes in mental health (i.e., mental illness and well-being). The present study highlights change-tochange dynamics between essentialist beliefs about cognitive aging and mental health, regardless of age. Public Significance StatementThe present study suggests that essentialist beliefs about cognitive aging do indeed matter for mental health. Changes in essentialist beliefs about cognitive aging are associated with changes in mental health regardless of age. This has implications for the development of interventions designed to reduce negative views of aging across the entire life course.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in essentialist beliefs about cognitive aging predicts changes in mental health: Evidence from a 10-year longitudinal study.

Prati

2024

Psychology and Aging

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“…To our knowledge, limited research explores whether volunteering may be effective in reducing ageism or internalized ageism. However, a recent conceptual model of interventions to reduce internalized ageism (Steward, 2021) drew from theory and literature on productive aging and SET (Levy, 2009). Volunteering is one activity identified at a micro/mezzo level that may help to both reduce internalized ageism and enhance psychosocial health for older adults (Steward, 2021).…”

Section: Internalized Ageism and Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a recent conceptual model of interventions to reduce internalized ageism (Steward, 2021) drew from theory and literature on productive aging and SET (Levy, 2009). Volunteering is one activity identified at a micro/mezzo level that may help to both reduce internalized ageism and enhance psychosocial health for older adults (Steward, 2021). Specifically, volunteering (in addition to physical, cognitive, and other forms of social engagement) was suggested as one way to mitigate the negative impact of ageism on health within the psychological pathway of SET (Levy, 2009; Steward, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Volunteering is one activity identified at a micro/mezzo level that may help to both reduce internalized ageism and enhance psychosocial health for older adults (Steward, 2021). Specifically, volunteering (in addition to physical, cognitive, and other forms of social engagement) was suggested as one way to mitigate the negative impact of ageism on health within the psychological pathway of SET (Levy, 2009; Steward, 2021). Further, self-efficacy was identified as a potential key variable within the psychological pathway in SET (Chang et al, 2020; Levy, 2009; Steward, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Do Internalized Age Stereotypes Mediate the Relationship Between Volunteering and Self-Efficacy for Adults 50+ Years of Age?

Steward

Hasche

2023

Int J Aging Hum Dev

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This cross-sectional study examined whether internalized age stereotypes mediate the relationship between volunteering and self-efficacy for adults 50+ years of age. A convenience sample of volunteers (n = 173) residing in the United States of America Mountain West completed a 15-min, online survey. The independent variable was number of volunteer hours per week (mean = 6.44, SD = 5.50). The dependent variable was self-efficacy measured by five, four-point items from the general self-efficacy scale ( α = .83; mean = 3.57, SD = .38). The indirect effects of five internalized positive and five negative age stereotypes were tested. Results indicate that increased internalized positive, but not negative, age stereotypes partially mediated the relationship between volunteer hours and self-efficacy. Although positive age stereotypes have long been considered a form of ageism, the findings suggest that internalized positive age stereotypes may function as a form of esteem to enhance psychosocial well-being.

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“…Based on our previous findings (Kowaliková & Chytil, 2019, 2022, we asked the research questions: 'According to older adults, can family be a source of social support in a difficult situation? ', and 'What are the limitations of self-sufficiency in daily activities?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The family as a source of social support for older adults: Implications for gerontological social work

Bražinová,

Chytil

2024

Journal of Social Work

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Summary Results of our previous research indicated that older adults believe that there's a lack of sufficient social support from informal sources available to them in difficult situations they face. In follow-up research, we found that older adults defined limitation in their self-sufficiency in daily activities to be the most significant difficult situation for them. This paper disseminates the results of the research seeking to answer the research question: According to older adults, can family be a source of social support in a difficult situation of limitation of self-sufficiency in daily activities? Social support theory is the used theoretical basis. Using the method of qualitative content analysis we analysed 23 semi-structured interviews with older adults. Findings We found that if two conditions, that is, geographic proximity to individual family members and the quality of relationships with family members, are ensured, family can function as one of the informal sources of social support according to older adults. In case that older adults prefer a formal source of social support, they consider their family as a source of social support only in an extreme situation of limited self-sufficiency. Applications This study provides social workers with a better understanding of the difficult situations of older adults and what kind of social support older adults prefer. This study also provides an argumentation about the importance of gerontological social work.

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Toward interventions to reduce internalized ageism

Cited by 22 publications

References 105 publications

Changes in essentialist beliefs about cognitive aging predicts changes in mental health: Evidence from a 10-year longitudinal study.

Changes in essentialist beliefs about cognitive aging predicts changes in mental health: Evidence from a 10-year longitudinal study.

Do Internalized Age Stereotypes Mediate the Relationship Between Volunteering and Self-Efficacy for Adults 50+ Years of Age?

The family as a source of social support for older adults: Implications for gerontological social work

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