Older adults are healthier than many people expect: reducing anti-old attitudes

Shimizu, Yuho; Suzuki, M.; Hata, Y.; Sakaki, Toshiro

doi:10.1080/03601277.2023.2214764

“…For example, negative stereotypes exist that "older adults are prone to illness," but it was shown that presenting people with the content that "many older adults are healthy enough and able to live on their own" decreased ageism toward older adults. 18,19 Although these findings targeted younger people, a similar experimental manipulation for older adults may affirm their perceptions of older adults. Future empirical studies are required to positively change the perceptions of old age among older adults.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Negative perceptions of older adults and life satisfaction among community-dwelling older citizens in Japan

Shimizu,

Sato,

Ogawa

et al. 2024

F1000Res

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Background With the rapid aging of the population, increasing life satisfaction among older adults is essential. Negative perceptions of older adults are internalized, leading to poor mental health. This study hypothesized that participants with more negative perceptions of older adults would have lower life satisfaction. Methods A cross-sectional survey of older adults was conducted across five wards and four cities in Tokyo, Japan. Participants responded to questions regarding demographics, life satisfaction, and negative perceptions of older adults. Data from 285 participants (264 women, M = 71.97 years) were analyzed. Results The intraclass correlation coefficient for life satisfaction concerning residential areas was. 03 (95% confidence interval [CI] = [-.03, .10]). Instead of multilevel models, a multiple regression model with life satisfaction as the dependent variable and negative perceptions of older adults and demographics as the independent variables yielded the best fit. Results indicated that participants with more negative perceptions of older adults reported lower life satisfaction (β = -.16, 95% CI = [-.28, -.04], p = .008), supporting our hypothesis. Conclusions This study was constrained by limited variance in residential areas and a predominantly female participant pool. Previous studies have shown that higher life satisfaction is associated with increased social participation and extended life expectancy, and interventions aimed at enhancing life satisfaction in older adults are significant. Further exploration is warranted to ascertain whether a causal relationship exists, wherein more negative perceptions of older adults diminish life satisfaction.

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Prescriptive stereotypes, negative attitudes toward older adults, and social participation: surveys on younger and older Japanese

Shimizu,

Suzuki,

Hata

et al. 2024

Cogent Gerontology

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0

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Negative perceptions toward older adults and life satisfaction among community-dwelling older citizens in Japan

Shimizu,

Sato,

Ogawa

et al. 2024

F1000Res

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background With the rapid aging of the population, increasing life satisfaction among older adults is essential. Negative perceptions of older adults are internalized, leading to poor mental health. This study hypothesized that participants with more negative perceptions of older adults would have lower life satisfaction. Methods A cross-sectional survey of older adults was conducted across five wards and four cities in Tokyo, Japan. Participants responded to questions regarding demographics, life satisfaction, and negative perceptions of older adults. Data from 285 participants (264 women, M = 71.97 years) were analyzed. Results The intraclass correlation coefficient for life satisfaction concerning residential areas was. 03 (95% confidence interval [CI] = [-.03, .10]). Instead of multilevel models, a multiple regression model with life satisfaction as the dependent variable and negative perceptions of older adults and demographics as the independent variables yielded the best fit. Results indicated that participants with more negative perceptions of older adults reported lower life satisfaction (β = -.16, 95% CI = [-.28, -.04], p = .008), supporting our hypothesis. Conclusions This study was constrained by limited variance in residential areas and a predominantly female participant pool. Previous studies have shown that higher life satisfaction is associated with increased social participation and extended life expectancy, and interventions aimed at enhancing life satisfaction in older adults are significant. Further exploration is warranted to ascertain whether a causal relationship exists, wherein more negative perceptions of older adults diminish life satisfaction.

show abstract

Older adults are healthier than many people expect: reducing anti-old attitudes

Cited by 4 publications

References 39 publications

Negative perceptions of older adults and life satisfaction among community-dwelling older citizens in Japan

Negative perceptions of older adults and life satisfaction among community-dwelling older citizens in Japan

Prescriptive stereotypes, negative attitudes toward older adults, and social participation: surveys on younger and older Japanese

Negative perceptions toward older adults and life satisfaction among community-dwelling older citizens in Japan

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