scholarly journals KNOWLEDGE OF AGING, NEGATIVE AGE BIAS, AND POSITIVE AGE BIAS: AGE GROUP DIFFERENCES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S80-S81
Author(s):  
Grace Caskie ◽  
Anastasia E Canell ◽  
Hannah M Bashian
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Age Bias ◽  
Negative Beliefs ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Abstract Attitudes towards aging include both positive and negative beliefs about older adults (Iverson et al., 2017; Palmore, 1999). Palmore’s (1998) Facts on Aging Quiz, a widely used assessment of knowledge about aging, also identifies common societal misconceptions about aging. Findings regarding age group differences in attitudes toward aging are mixed (Bodner et al., 2012; Cherry & Palmore, 2008; Rupp et al., 2005). The current study compared knowledge of aging, negative age bias, and positive age bias between young adults (18-35 years, n=268) and middle-aged adults (40-55 years; n=277). Middle-aged adults reported significantly greater average knowledge of aging than young adults (p=.019), although both groups had relatively low knowledge (MA: M=13.0, YA: M=12.2). Middle-aged adults also showed significantly less negative age bias (p<.001) and significantly more positive age bias than young adults (p=.026). Although the total sample was significantly more likely to be incorrect than correct on 23 of the 25 facts (p<.001), young adults were significantly more likely than middle-aged adults (p<.001) to respond incorrectly for only 2 of 25 facts. Both facts reflected greater negative age bias among young adults than middle-aged adults. These facts concerned older adults’ ability to work as effectively as young adults (fact 9) and frequency of depression in older adults (fact 13). Results demonstrate that age bias is not limited to young adults and may continue through midlife, though negative age bias in particular may be lower for individuals approaching older adulthood, which could have implications for their psychological and physical well-being.

scholarly journals What’s Age Have to Do With Comfortableness in Seeking and Providing Social Support After a Disaster?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 440-440
Author(s):  
Judith Robertson Phillips ◽  
Edith Jimenez
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Well Being ◽  
San Diego County ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Community Residents ◽  
Disaster Survivors ◽  
Tangible Support ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Abstract Disasters are associated with loss of property and loss of psychological well-being. Receiving various types of social support, such as emotional or tangible support, from various sources, such as family or friends, have been found to reduce the adverse impact of a disaster on affected adult community residents. It is not well studied, though, why some adults will not seek or provide support after a disaster while other adults will. The purpose of this study was to explore how age might play a role in how comfortable adults were in seeking social support from others and how age might play a role in how comfortable adults were in providing social support to others after a disaster, the 2014 San Diego County, CA wildfires. One hundred and twenty-two community residents (18 to 80 years) were recruited with 33 adults identified as Secondary Disaster Survivors and 89 adults identified as Non-Victims. Analyses revealed that age did play a role in Secondary Survivors’ comfortableness in seeking support from others; Older Adults (50-80) were significantly less likely than Middle-aged Adults (30-49) to feel comfortable in seeking support. There was no significant comfortableness difference between Middle-aged and Younger Adults (18-29) in seeking support. There were no age group differences in comfortableness in providing support to others for Secondary Survivors and Non-Victims. Implications from this data suggest that local disaster organizations should actively support affected older adults post-disaster while also including unaffected adults of all ages in the process of providing support to those in need.

scholarly journals PERCEPTIONS OF PERPETRATORS OF AGEISM

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S79-S79
Author(s):  
Alison L Chasteen ◽  
Michelle Horhota ◽  
Jessica Crumley-Branyon
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Older Woman ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Time Interaction ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
Main Effects

Abstract What are the consequences for perpetrators who engage in different types of ageism? We compared young (n=316), middle-aged (n=464), and older adults’ (n=273) perceptions of a perpetrator who engaged in an ageist action. Participants read a vignette about a pedestrian (the perpetrator) offering unwanted help to an older woman crossing the street. We manipulated the ageism type (benevolent or hostile), the reaction of the older target (acceptance, moderate confrontation or strong confrontation) and assessed the overall impression of the perpetrator. Main effects emerged for Ageism Type and Age Group. Overall, participants rated the perpetrator more positively in the benevolent condition compared to the hostile condition. Middle-aged and older adults rated the perpetrator more positively than young adults did. A Time x Confront interaction suggested that the perpetrator’s overall impression was not impacted when the target of the ageist act accepted the action or moderately confronted the perpetrator. In contrast, when the target confronted the perpetrator strongly, the overall impression of the perpetrator decreased. An Ageism Type x Age Group x Time interaction on overall impression also emerged. There were no age differences when the perpetrator committed a hostile act of ageism. In contrast, in the benevolent condition young and older adults perceived the perpetrator more negatively after the target’s reaction, whereas middle-aged adults did not adjust their impression. Taken together, these results suggest that young and older adults may be less accepting of benevolent ageism compared to middle-aged adults.

Overlooked and Underestimated: Experiences of Ageism in Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison L Chasteen ◽  
Michelle Horhota ◽  
Jessica J Crumley-Branyon
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Life Span ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Age Bias ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Abstract Objectives Although the prevalence of ageism against older people has been well-established, less is known about the characteristics of those experiences or the experiences of young and middle-aged adults. The present study addressed these gaps by examining young, middle-aged, and older adults’ self-reports of an ageist action they experienced. Methods Participants’ descriptions were coded for the domain in which the ageist experience occurred, the perpetrator of the ageist experience, and the type of ageist experience. Results Young adults most commonly reported experiencing ageism in the workplace with coworkers as perpetrators. Middle-aged and older adults also reported ageism in the workplace; however, they also frequently reported experiencing ageism while seeking goods and services. Perpetrators of ageism varied more widely for middle-aged and older adults. Regardless of one’s age, ageism was commonly experienced in the form of a lack of respect or incorrect assumptions. Discussion The findings enhance our understanding of ageism across adulthood by considering the domains, perpetrators, and types of ageist expressions that adults of all ages encounter. They also suggest that interventions to reduce age bias will require multifaceted approaches that take into account the different forms that individuals experience across the life span.

scholarly journals Agency and communion attributes in adults’ spontaneous self-representations

2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred Diehl ◽  
Stephanie K. Owen ◽  
Lise M. Youngblade
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Defence Mechanisms ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Agency And Communion ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
Group Self ◽  
Age And Sex

This study investigated agency and communion attributes in adults’ spontaneous self-representations. The study sample consisted of 158 adults (80 men, 78 women) ranging in age from 20 to 88 years. Consistent with theorising, significant age and sex differences were found in terms of the number of agency and communion attributes. Young and middle-aged adults included significantly more agency attributes in their self-representations than older adults; men listed significantly more agency attributes than women. In contrast, older adults included significantly more communion attributes in their self-representations than young adults, and women listed significantly more communion attributes than men. Significant Age Group × Self-Portrait Display and Sex × Self-Portrait Display interactions were found for communion attributes, indicating that the importance of communion attributes differed across age groups and by sex. Correlational analyses showed significant associations of agency and communion attributes with personality traits and defence mechanisms. Communion attributes also showed significant correlations with four dimensions of psychological well-being.

scholarly journals Creative Hobbies as a Protective Factor Against Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 14-14
Author(s):  
Sarah Israel ◽  
Darby Mackenstadt ◽  
Carolyn Adams-Price
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Health Anxiety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Moderation Effect ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
High Degree

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted our way of life, leading to increased rates of anxiety and depression (Panchal et al., 2021). The implications may be worse for older adults who account for 80% of all COVID deaths (Freed et al., 2020). Meanwhile, prior to the pandemic, Adams-Price and colleagues (2018) found that creative hobby participation provided slightly different benefits for middle-aged and older adults. Specifically, evidence suggested that middle-aged adults may use their creative hobby more for stress relief than older adults. Using a sample of 239 women, aged 40 to 84 years old (M = 59.7), we examined whether the degree to which viewing one’s creative hobby as a component of one’s identity related to perceived stress, health anxiety, and depressive symptoms. In addition, we wanted to know whether these relationships were moderated by age. Single moderation models suggest that viewing one’s creative hobby as a part of their identity was related to higher health anxiety and reporting more depressive symptoms. In addition, age was related to reporting lower perceived stress, health anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Lastly, age provided a significant moderation effect to the relationship between degree of identity associated with one’s creative hobby and perceived stress such that middle-aged adults with a high degree of identification with their creative hobby reported the most perceived stress while older adults with a high degree of identification with their creative hobby reported the least perceived stress. Implications for older adult’s well-being and adaptiveness to the COVID-19 pandemic will be discussed.

Frequency of Public Laughter in Relation to Sex, Age, Ethnicity, and Social Context

2002 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 746-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Chapell ◽  
Michael Batten ◽  
Jael Brown ◽  
Elisa Gonzalez ◽  
Gabrielle Herquet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Social Context ◽  
Older People ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

This study investigated the frequency of public laughter in a total of 10,419 children, adolescents, young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults. Females laughed significantly more than males, and younger people generally laughed more than older people.

Frequency of Public Smiling across the Life Span

1997 ◽  
Vol 85 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1326-1326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark S. Chapell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Life Span ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

This study of the frequency of public smiling in a sample of 15,824 children, adolescents, young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults yielded a significant decrease in public smiling across age groups. Females smiled significantly more than males.

scholarly journals Attitudes about Dementia in Different Stages of Adulthood

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 604-604
Author(s):  
Melissa O'Connor ◽  
Megan Pedersen ◽  
Susan McFadden
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Factual Knowledge ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Middle Adulthood ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Abstract Research on attitudes toward dementia has often focused on younger and older adults; few studies have also included the age groups of established and middle adulthood. The current study utilized data from community-dwelling adults aged 18-95 (n=567) residing in two Midwestern states. Participants were divided into four age groups: emerging/young adulthood (ages 18-29), established adulthood (ages 30-45), middle adulthood (ages 46-64), and older adulthood (age 65+). ANOVA models were used to examine age group differences on the following outcomes: factual knowledge about dementia (total score on 14 true-false questions); attitudes toward dementia (total score on the 20-item Dementia Attitudes Scale); and a single item, “I am afraid of losing my memory” (rated on a 5-point scale). The effect of age group was significant in all models (p<0.01 for all). Emerging/young adults had significantly more knowledge about dementia, but less positive attitudes toward dementia, relative to established, middle-aged, and older adults. Attitudes and knowledge did not differ between established, middle-aged, and older adults. By contrast, older adults reported significantly more fear of memory loss than emerging/young, established, and middle-aged adults; fear did not differ between the latter three age groups. There were no significant interactions between age group and sex in any of the models. Implications of these findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Age Differences in Awe Among Young, Middle-aged, and Older Adults: Extensions of Socioemotional Selectivity Theory

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 772-772
Author(s):  
Alexandria Ebert ◽  
Julie Hicks Patrick ◽  
Maya Huggins ◽  
Aradhita Yadava ◽  
Sarah Collett
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Socioemotional Selectivity Theory ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Socioemotional Selectivity ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Effect Of Age

Abstract Increases in motivation for the pursuit of emotionally meaningful goals and activities as people age (socioemotional selectivity theory; SST) necessitates the investigation of means in which these goals and activities can be realized. In the present study adults (N = 130) aged 25 to 78 (M = 53.32; SD = 15.181) watched awe-inducing (view of space) and happiness-inducing (comedian Robin Williams interacting with Koko the “talking gorilla”) videos and then completed measures associated with awe, affect, and well-being (measured via PGC Positive and Negative Affect Scales). Analyses of Variance (ANOVAs) were conducted to examine the effect of age (split by young, middle-aged, and older) on experiences of awe and positive affect in response to watching each video. There was a main effect of age on experiences of awe for both videos (ps < 05). Specifically, older adults experienced significantly higher levels of awe than young adults (p < .05) in response to video 1. They also experienced significantly higher levels of awe than young adults (p < .01) in response to video 2. Bivariate correlations among awe, well-being, and happiness were similar in strength and magnitude in each age group (ps < .05). Overall, consistent with Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, our findings suggest that affective reactions of awe and happiness, induced by videos, relate to well-being across age-groups. Future work should test whether the use of these awe-inducing videos can improve well-being.

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