Everyday Ageism and Health: Evidence From the National Poll on Healthy Aging. (16th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Allen, Julie Ober; Solway, Erica; Kirch, Matthias; Singer, Dianne; Kullgren, Jeffrey; Malani, Preeti
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 4(2020)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 723
• Page End: 723
• Publication Date: 2020-12-16
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2558
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: This study examined the prevalence of everyday ageism, routine types of age-based discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping that older adults encounter in their daily lives, and its relationships with health in a nationally representative sample age 50-80 (N=2, 048, 52% female, 71% White). Nearly all older adults said they sometimes or often experienced everyday ageism (96% age 65-80, 92% age 50-64). The most common types were beliefs that health problems were an inevitable part of getting older (78%), hearing jokes about aging/older people (61%), and seeing material suggesting that older adults were unattractive/undesirable (38%). Those reporting more experiences with everyday ageism (>3 types) were less likely than those reporting fewer types to have excellent/very good physical health (31% vs. 50%); similar results were found for mental health (60% vs. 80%). This poll documented the ubiquity of minor, but not inconsequential, everyday ageism reported by older adults and its potential ramifications for health.