How images of old age vary with age: an exploratory study among the Portuguese population

Abstract

Agism was the term chosen by Butler to name the process of discrimination based on chronological age, which usually results in an image of the elderly as unproductive, sick, depressed and with cognitive impairment. This form of bias, like others that devaluate and stereotype groups of people, has a marked effect on social interaction, influencing social attitudes and perceptions in a covert manner. The use of negative images relating to old age and the aging process promotes negative attitudes relating to elderly people, affects the way they live and the way people of other ages prepare to face their old age.

Psychometric properties of the Negative Stereotypes Towards Aging Questionnaire (CENVE) among a sample of Portuguese adults

“…Participants with primary educational levels reported higher means of negative aging stereotypes than high school and university levels. This result is comparable with the findings of Menéndez et al (2016) and highlights the relevance of formal education in the changing of aging attitudes (Sousa, Cerqueira, & Galante, 2008). In fact, educational level was the only discriminant sociodemographic characteristic of aging stereotypes.…”

Images of Aging in Institutionalized and Non-Institutionalized Elderly People

“…However, concerning the factor "maturity, activity and affectivity", our results were lower than the results obtained by Sousa et al (2008), as it can be seen on Table 2. Table 2 Mean values obtained in Sousa, Cerqueira, and Galante's (2008) When comparing the images and stereotypes of aging and old age among institutionalized and non-institutionalized participants, the results indicated differences in two factors. For the factor "dependence, sadness and old-fashioned", the institutionalized elderly people showed a mean of 51.9 (SD = 6.02), higher than the one obtained in the non-institutionalized group (M = 49.1; SD = 7.85).…”

“…Comparing our results with those of Sousa et al (2008), also performed in a Portuguese sample, we found that our results regarding the factors "dependence, sadness and old-fashioned" and "relational and cognitive incompetence" were higher than those from the original study. However, concerning the factor "maturity, activity and affectivity", our results were lower than the results obtained by Sousa et al (2008), as it can be seen on Table 2.…”

“…ImAges Scale -The ImAges scale was developed by Sousa et al (2008) for the Portuguese population, in order to characterize the images of aging and old age in different age groups (youngsters, adults, "young-old" and "very old"). This scale had 32 items, grouped into four factors: (1) "dependence, sadness and old-fashioned", which was related to disease, loss of physical abilities, dependence, sadness, loneliness and living 'of memories'; (2) "relational and cognitive incompetence" that referred to decreased cognitive performance, and social maladapted behaviours; (3) "maturity, activity and affectivity", which described old age as a maturity phase, and the old person as active and affectionate; and (4) "uselessness", that described old age and the old person as no longer having a contribution to make.…”

“…After obtaining the authorization to use the ImAges scale (Sousa et al, 2008), the questionnaires' response structure was adapted. The institutions where the data collection would take place were then contacted.…”