Prioritizing Health Care and Employment Resources During COVID-19: Roles of Benevolent and Hostile Ageism

Abstract

Background and Objectives Benevolent and hostile ageism are subtypes of ageism that characterize older adults as incompetent. With benevolent ageism, older adults are also viewed as warm. The COVID-19 pandemic has strained resources and prompted debates about priority for older adults versus other groups. Research Design and Methods College students completed an online survey of how much priority should be given to older adults in three relevant healthcare-related scenarios and three relevant employment scenarios. Results Benevolent ageism significantly predicted higher priority for older adults to receive healthcare (triage, COVID-19 vaccine, COVID-19 testing) and employment resources (retention of job, working from home) while greater endorsement of hostile ageism significantly predicted lower priority ratings. Discussion and Implications These findings replicate and extend past work. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on healthcare and employment resources, this study sheds light on one factor -- benevolent and hostile ageism -- that contributes to a greater understanding of prioritization views toward a vulnerable segment of the population.

Perceived Ageism During the Covid-19-Crisis Is Longitudinally Related to Subjective Perceptions of Aging

“…Besides, while we assessed perceived ageism in different domains, which is a strength, the questions were not used in previous studies and did not allow for the differentiation of hostile and benevolent forms of ageism (e.g., the well-meant take-over of chores, regardless of people's capacities and wishes). Benevolent ageism might negatively affect people's autonomy and self-worth on a more implicit and long-term level ( 35 , 36 ) and thus both forms of ageism and their effects on people's self-perceptions of aging need to be addressed in future studies [cf. ( 9 )].…”

Pre-pandemic Ageism Toward Older Adults Predicts Behavioral Intentions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Ageism, in part, may account for the sluggish and inadequate response to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in negative physical and mental health consequences for older adults ( Ayalon, 2020 ; Ayalon et al, 2020 ; Bergman et al, 2020 ; Monahan et al, 2020 ). Given the potential for the COVID-19 pandemic to affect future behavior toward older adults ( Apriceno et al, 2020 ), this two-part study sought to examine whether pre-pandemic views of older adults predicted prosocial behavioral intentions specific to the pandemic and more generally. This timely study examined undergraduates, a population that has reported ageism in prior studies ( Apriceno et al, 2020 ; Bousfield & Hutchison, 2010 ; Kite et al, 2005 ; Lytle, Macdonald et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Given the potential for the COVID-19 pandemic to affect future behavior toward older adults ( Apriceno et al, 2020 ), this two-part study sought to examine whether pre-pandemic views of older adults predicted prosocial behavioral intentions specific to the pandemic and more generally. This timely study examined undergraduates, a population that has reported ageism in prior studies ( Apriceno et al, 2020 ; Bousfield & Hutchison, 2010 ; Kite et al, 2005 ; Lytle, Macdonald et al, 2020 ).…”

Respecting Older Adults: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Older people are associated with debilitation, they are deemed not worthy of attention, non-competitive or unsuitable for employment, although warm (Chang et al 2020;Cherry and Palmore 2008;Cuddy et al 2005). Thus, ageism can be both benevolent and hostile (Apriceno et al 2020). Unfortunately, these stereotypes are largely consistent across cultures and they most often result in social exclusion (Inglehart et al 2014;Stuckelberger et al 2013;Walsh et al 2017).…”