Ageism and Negative Mental Tendencies in the Third Age

Abstract

Ageism is one of the global problems of contemporary world. This article is an attempt to look at it from a point of view of mentality. A few of the main manifestations of ageism including prejudice and openly demonstrated discrimination against seniors are discussed. On the basis of a survey, some conclusions are made about the negative consequences from ageism for the mentality of older people. The survey was conducted among 27 people between the ages of 20 - 35 and 36 people between the ages of 65 - 80 (mean age of 73.5 years)

Sentimentality and Nostalgia in Elderly People: Psychometric Properties of a New Questionnaire

“…Age discrimination, prejudices and ageism reflect very negatively on the elderly people's mental life. The impossibility to be continued the labour activity, the stigma, the rude and mocking attitude make the old person perceive the old age as a trouble and undesired life period (Gergov & Asenova, 2012). Stigma related to the old age stimulates the personality to orientate one's thoughts at the better past.…”

Perceived Age Discrimination: A Precipitator or a Consequence of Depressive Symptoms?

“…The well-documented negative consequences of perceived discrimination (Ferraro, 2014;Gergov & Asenova, 2012;Minichiello, Browne, & Kendig, 2000;Schmitt, Branscombe, Postmes, & Garcia, 2014;Vogt Yuan, 2007) can be explained by the stress model, which views discrimination as a source of stress that results in poorer mental health and health outcomes (Clark, Anderson, Clark, & Williams, 1999;Kessler et al, 1999). Perceived discrimination is seen as a situation in which one has no control, and as a result, learned helplessness, apathy, and depression are developed (Abramson, Seligman, & Teasdale, 1978).…”