Relations between views on ageing and perceived age discrimination: a domain-specific perspective

Abstract

This study investigates the relation between age stereotypes and perceived age discrimination. Existing evidence for such a relation is notoriously ambiguous with regard to its direction-age stereotypes can predict (perceived) discrimination, but experiencing discrimination may also change views on ageing-which is why we used a dataset with two waves to disentangle the direction of the associations. Considering research on the multi-dimensionality of views on ageing and perceived age discrimination, we addressed this question from a domain-and age group-specific perspective. Drawing on data from two measurement points of the German Ageing Survey (DEAS; t 1 : 2008, t 2 : 2011; age range at t 1 : 40-93 years, n = 6092 participants at t 1 ), we examined reciprocal relations between views on ageing and perceived age discrimination. Cross-lagged models revealed that domain-specific views on ageing predict subsequent changes in perceived discrimination in corresponding domains: Negative views on ageing regarding personal competence, physical decline, and social interactions were associated with increases in perceived discrimination in the domains of work, medical care, and social life, respectively. However, we did not find evidence for a reciprocal effect of perceived age discrimination on views on ageing. In sum, results indicate that negative views on ageing act as self-fulfilling prophecies by predisposing people to categorize other people's behaviour as age discrimination or to act themselves in a way that might elicit ageist behaviour in others.

Ageism: The Relationship between Age Stereotypes and Age Discrimination

“…Considering the subjective nature of perceived age discrimination, we neither intend to deny that "objective" age discrimination exists nor do we consider (falsely) perceiving age discrimination to be less harmful than noticing actual age discrimination. This perspective can, however, help to identify individuals or situations for whom or which the probability of perceiving discrimination is particularly high (Voss et al 2017), and it also elucidates possible relations between (perceived) age discrimination and an actor's (as well as a perceiver's) behaviour. Although perceived and "objective" age discrimination are conceptually different, they are somehow empirically linked.…”

“…A process of mutual influence is conceivable whereby negative self-perceptions of ageing are related to more perceived age discrimination, which in turn reinforces negative self-perceptions of ageing. Therefore Voss et al (2017) examined the association among self-perceptions of ageing and perceived age discrimination across two measurement occasions that were separated by a three-year interval. Their results point to a stronger effect of self-perceptions of ageing on subsequent changes in perceived age discrimination.…”

“…Although empirical evidence for the existence of age stereotypes and age discrimination related to various life domains is abundant (e.g., Brockmann 2002;Hummert et al 1994; for more examples and reviews on age stereotypes and age discrimination, e.g., in the domains health care, mental health, and work, see Wyman and Shiovitz-Ezra; Bodner, Palgi and Wyman; De Tavernier, Naegele and Hess in this book), their assumed causal relations are difficult to prove and might be more complex than expected (Dovidio et al 1996;Voss and Rothermund in press). In this chapter, we draw a differentiated picture of this relationship by (a) disentangling conceptual and empirical relations between age stereotypes and age discrimination and (b) focusing not only on the role of age stereotypes held by those who show ageist behaviours, but additionally considering the perspective of older adults themselves as they also hold stereotypes about (their own) age and ageing that are related to perceived age discrimination (Voss et al 2017). Figure 2.1 gives an overview of the complex mutual relations between age stereotypes and age discrimination, simultaneously taking into account both the perspective of actor and perceiver whereby actor refers to people interacting with older adults (potentially behaving towards them in a discriminatory way) and perceiver refers to older adults (potentially perceiving age discrimination).…”

Taking a closer look at ageism: self- and other-directed ageist attitudes and discrimination

“…This is important because self-directed ageism is a risk for increased morbidity and mortality (Levy et al 2002(Levy et al , 2009). In their paper, Voss et al (2016, in this section of EJA) examine a fundamental research question concerning the temporal relation between age stereotypes and perceived age discrimination. Much of the literature concerns the negative effects of age discrimination (Angus and Reeve 2006).…”

“…Hence, ones' perceptions of the situation as discriminatory or not are affected by one's own views on ageing. The authors concluded that holding negative views on ageing either predisposes individuals to categorize other people's behaviours as age discrimination or act as self-fulfilling prophecies to elicit ageist behaviours by others (Voss et al 2016).…”