The Conceptual and Methodological Characteristics of Ageism During COVID-19: A Scoping Review of Empirical Studies

Abstract

Background and Objectives Printed and social media, as well as professional and scholarly platforms, have extensively discussed the proliferation of ageism during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, no study has systematically examined the body of knowledge on the topic. Framed around the characteristics of ageism in general, the aim of this review was to identify and characterize the conceptual and methodological underpinnings of the global, peer-reviewed, empirical literature on ageism during COVID-19. Research Design and Methods We conducted a scoping review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, using PubMed, CINAHL, AgeLine, and PsycINFO. Quantitative and/or qualitative, English-language, peer-reviewed articles were included. Data were tabulated and synthesized. Results Thirty-six articles examining ageism during the COVID-19 pandemic met inclusion criteria. Most were quantitative (64%), and cross-sectional (81%). The level, correlates, and consequences of ageism during the pandemic were similar to the ones reported before it. Studies about ageism during COVID-19 had similar conceptualization and measurement problems to those before the pandemic. Discussion and Implications Empirical studies didn't find ageism during COVID-19 to be a unique phenomenon, as suggested by the media. More theoretically sound and methodologically rigorous studies, using longitudinal designs and validated unique measures are needed to examine this unique phenomenon.

Mentally healthy living after pandemic social distancing: a study of older Canadians reveals helpful anxiety reduction strategies

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“…As the mental harms of COVID‐19 continue to surface, studies are needed to compare how older people in different countries perceive and manage their anxiety 81–83 . Evaluating anxiety to better understand negative emotional states is also essential, 63,64 as such adversities can prompt broader coping attempts and resiliency 84 .…”

Suitability of the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire Short Form for Use among Adults in Their 50s: A Cross-Sectional e-Survey Study

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