Age stereotypes and self-views in later life: Evaluating rival assumptions

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 549-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Rothermund ◽  
Jochen Brandtstädter
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The Self ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Reference Standard ◽  
Age Stereotypes ◽  
Sequential Study ◽  
Age Range

Concerning the relation between age stereotypes and self-views in older people, three general assumptions can be distinguished: (1) age stereotypes contaminate the self-views of older people (“contamination hypothesis”), (2) age stereotypes serve as a reference standard for self-enhancing comparisons (“comparison hypothesis”), (3) individually held age stereotypes are a projection of elderly persons’ self-views (“externalisation hypothesis”). These hypotheses were evaluated in a cross-sequential study assessing self-ratings and ratings of the “typical old person” over a longitudinal interval of 8 years in a sample of 690 participants (initial age range 54–77 years). Conforming to the contamination hypothesis (but contrary to the comparison hypothesis), stereotyped expectations about elderly people predicted later self-appraisals. Conforming with the externalisation hypothesis, self-views had an influence on individually held age stereotypes. Findings also highlight the importance of differential factors: A disposition to flexibly disengage from blocked goals shields self-views from self-deprecating influences of negative age stereotypes in old age.

scholarly journals Predictors of subjective age and emotional health in the elderly

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.I. Melehin ◽  
E.A. Sergienko
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Self ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Subjective Age ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Age Estimates

This article describes the importance of the subjective age in understanding mental health in middle and old age. This phenomenon of positive illusions age estimates. Concretized the concept of emotional health. Presents the factors influencing the self-perception of age in later life. Within the framework of empirical research shows that elderly persons multikomorbidnost diseases, changes in emotional health are all factors influencing the subjective age and its components.

scholarly journals Exploring the Preparedness of Ghanaians for Retirement and Ageing: A Case Study of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Area

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Korkoi Aboh ◽  
Busisiwe P. Ncama
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Older People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Cape Coast ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Traditional System ◽  
The Family

Introduction: There is evidence of the inability of older people in Nigeria, Ghana and other developing countries to sustain themselves through savings, assets or pensions. This situation highlights the minimal benefit of pensions, savings or assets as income sources for older people; old age very often brings poverty and disability. Methodology: A qualitative interpretive design informed the study. The study area was categorized into three distinct ecological areas namely urban, periurban and rural areas. Twenty interviews and three focus group discussions with 68 elderly persons were conducted in ten sub-districts in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. The forty-eight elderly individuals were put into groups of 8, 20 and 20 for the focus group discussions. Data was thematically analysed.Results: Four major themes and subthemes were identified to reflect the pertinent issue of exploring and defining the preparedness of people for their retirement and ageing. There was evidence that preparing for old age is not an active precedent for the people of Cape Coast and they still believe in the traditional system of caring where it is the sole responsibility of the family to care for its own aged members.Conclusion: It is evident that formal care is not practiced in Ghana and that the aged therefore find the idea bewildering. They want to experience this care, but existing norms expect the family members to single-handedly provide care for their aged.

scholarly journals Stereotypes of Old Age

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (20) ◽  
pp. 69-88
Author(s):  
Christiane Monteiro Machado ◽  
Jorge Pedro Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Construction ◽  
Older People ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Ageing Process ◽  
The Media ◽  
Advertising Spending ◽  
Negative Stereotyping

Ageing, more than a demographic phenomenon (a consolidated process in Europe, still a recent one in Brazil), is a social construction influenced by the media. Advertising, which simultaneously reflects and contributes to the construction of social values, uses stereotypes as a tool for creating easily identifiable characters. This study aims at identifying aspects explored by advertising messages using stereotypes to portray older people. The sample consists of nineteen pieces selected from more than 4,500 posts on Facebook and Youtube by the ten companies with the largest advertising spending in Brazil from July 2017 to June 2018. Among the 104 pieces that feature elderly people, nineteen did use stereotypes. In twelve of them, positive stereotypes, always related to longlife accumulated experience, while seven included negative traits, such as elderly people losing touch with reality, having difficulties with technology, poor social interaction, physical impairements, or old-fashioned clothing. Negative stereotyping reflects an outdated perspective of the ageing process.

Diagnosing undernutrition in elderly people

1997 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
SE Gariballa ◽  
AJ Sinclair
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Environmental Exposures ◽  
Lifestyle Factors ◽  
Cumulative Effects ◽  
Age Related

One of the greatest challenges of medicine in old age is for physicians to understand the process of aging and to be able to distinguish it from disease, lifestyle factors and environmental exposures whose cumulative effects account for many of the changes observed in older people. As a result, physicians have a duty to recognize and intervene appropriately against age-related diseases.

Gendered Perceptions of Aging: An Examination of College Students

2008 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 359-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E. Barrett ◽  
Carmen Von Rohr
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Attitudes Toward Elderly ◽  
Life Attitudes ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Aging Anxiety

Few studies examine how the gendered nature of aging impacts young adults—shaping their images of later life, attitudes toward elderly persons, aging anxieties, and conceptions of the start of “old age.” We examine gender differences in young adults' views of elders and the aging process using a survey of college students and content analysis of student-drawn sketches of elders ( N = 391). Results indicate that both genders hold more positive images of elderly women than men; however, they view “old age” as beginning at a younger age for women. In addition, we find that, compared with men, women report later starts of “old age” for both genders and more favorable attitudes toward elders, but also greater aging anxiety.

The Elders: A New Generation

1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidney Jones
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Voluntary Activity ◽  
Scientific Images ◽  
Life Education ◽  
New Generation

ABSTRACTDrawing upon evidence from Britain, this paper advances the proposition that new generations of older people are experiencing a healthier, materially better off and more satisfying old age. It is argued that both popular and scientific images of later life are out-dated and unduly negative. In advancing this analysis, attention is given to key areas of personal experience and social life: education, leisure and holidays, retirement, voluntary activity, spirituality, economic status, health and political involvement. A re-construction of the societal position of older people is indicated.

scholarly journals Factors affecting primary care practitioners’ alcohol-related discussions with older adults: Qualitative study

2021 ◽  
pp. BJGP.2020.1118
Author(s):  
Bethany Kate Bareham ◽  
Jemma Stewart ◽  
Eileen Kaner ◽  
Barbara Hanratty
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Older People ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Long Term Conditions ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Comparison Results ◽  
Primary Care Practitioners

Background: Risk of harm from drinking is heightened in later life, due to age-related sensitivities to alcohol. Primary care services have a key role in supporting older people to make healthier decisions about alcohol. Aim: To examine primary care practitioners’ perceptions of factors that promote and challenge their work to support older people in alcohol risk-reduction. Design and Setting: Qualitative study consisting of semi-structured interviews and focus groups with primary care practitioners in Northern England. Method: Thirty-five practitioners (general practitioners, practice/district nurses, pharmacists, dentists, social care practitioners, domiciliary carers) participated in eight interviews and five focus groups. Data were analysed thematically, applying principles of constant comparison. Results: Practitioners highlighted particular sensitivities amongst older people to discussing alcohol, and reservations about older people’s resistance to making changes in old age; given drinking practices could be established, and promote socialisation and emotional wellbeing in later life. Age-related health issues increased older people’s contact with practitioners; but management of older people’s long-term conditions was prioritised over discussion of alcohol. Dedicated time to address alcohol in routine consultations with older people, and training in alcohol intervention facilitated practitioners; particularly pharmacists and practice nurses. Conclusion: There are clear opportunities to support older people in primary care to make healthier decisions about alcohol. Dedicated time to address alcohol, training in identification of alcohol-related risks, particularly those associated with old age; and tailored interventions for older people, feasible to implement in practice settings, would support primary care practitioners to address older people’s alcohol use.

scholarly journals Age-Friendly Approaches and Old-Age Exclusion: A Cross-City Analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tine Buffel ◽  
Samuèle Rémillard-Boilard ◽  
Kieran Walsh ◽  
Bernard McDonald ◽  
An-Sofie Smetcoren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Document Analysis ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Research Gap

Developing ‘Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC)’ has become a key part of policies aimed at improving the quality of life of older people in urban areas. Despite this development, there is evidence of rising inequalities among urban elders, and little known about the potential and limitations of the age-friendly model to reduce old-age exclusion. This article addresses this research gap by comparing how Brussels, Dublin, and Manchester, as three members of the Global Network of AFCC, have responded to social exclusion in later life. The article combines data from document analysis and stakeholder interviews to examine: first, the age-friendly approach and the goal of reducing social exclusion; and second, barriers to developing age-friendly policies as a means of addressing exclusion. The paper suggests that there are reciprocal benefits in linking age-friendly and social exclusion agendas for producing new ways of combatting unequal experiences of ageing in cities.

scholarly journals When Frail Older People Relocate in Very Old Age, Who Makes the Decision?

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Scheibl ◽  
Morag Farquhar ◽  
Jackie Buck ◽  
Stephen Barclay ◽  
Carol Brayne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Older People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Old People ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Age In Place

Abstract Background and Objectives Older people are likely to transition to a new home closer to family who can provide assistance or to long-term residential care as their health declines and their care needs increase. A minority choose to move to “age-friendly” housing before the onset of disability, but the majority prefer to “age in place” and defer moving until health crises compel a transition. Older people living with dementia are likely to move into residential care, but not much is known about the role they play in decision making around these moves. This qualitative study addresses this gap in knowledge by examining how a rare cohort of “older old” people, most with some level of cognitive impairment, were involved in decisions surrounding assistance seeking and moving to a care home. Research Design and Methods Thematic analysis of qualitative interview data from Cambridge City over-75s Cohort (CC75C) study participants aged 95 years and older, who had moved in later life, and their proxy informants (n = 26). Results Moves at such an old age were made due to a complexity of push and pull factors which had layered dynamics of decision making. In most cases (n = 22), decision making involved other people with varying degrees of decision ownership. Only four older people, who moved voluntarily, had full ownership of the decision to move. Many relatives reported being traumatized by events leading up to the move. Discussion and Implications “Older old” people are sometimes unable to make their own decisions about moving due to the urgency of health crisis and cognitive decline. There is a need to support relatives to discuss moving and housing options at timely junctures before health crises intervene in an effort to optimize older people’s participation in decision making.

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