Here is a link on some Ageist Stereotypes: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-ageist-stereotypes-that-should-end_n_5b19a66be4b09d7a3d70790b
And another: https://extension.sdstate.edu/5-examples-everyday-ageism
This link is for the article below: https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/ageist-beliefs
For decades, psychologists’ research has shown that ageism undermines older adults’ mental and physical health by implying they are less capable and worthy of care. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has surfaced how ageism endangers all of society by dividing generations at a time when unity is particularly important.
“Ageism comes with a price, costing us the intergenerational solidarity that’s needed during during the current COVID-19 crisis,” says Hans-Werner Wahl, PhD, senior professor of psychology who studies aging at Heidelberg University in Germany.
Psychologists who study the effects of ageism have found that stereotypes directed at older adults affect all age groups. Becca Levy, PhD, professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health and professor of psychology at Yale University, who is credited with starting this field of research, has developed a framework to explain how age stereotypes affect older persons. Her research has found that children and young adults are often exposed to negative stereotypes about older people and that they apply these stereotypes to themselves when they get older, with adverse health consequences.
Ageist beliefs may be especially harmful during the COVID-19 pandemic, when messages about older people as frail and vulnerable are rampant. According to Shevaun Neupert, PhD, a professor of psychology at North Carolina State University, there’s a general message in society that anyone who is older is equally vulnerable and at risk for contracting the virus.
“This message of ‘stay home and protect your grandmother’ could both shape how younger people think about older adults now and how they themselves will think about being older as they age,” she says. “This is a transformational time to imagine how generations of people will experience aging now and in the future.”
Ageist stereotypes could also affect how generations relate to one another now. Wahl says viewing all older people as frail could cause younger people who view themselves as “lower risk” for becoming infected to resent older generations for the need for stay-at-home precautions.
“We need to avoid this tendency to blame older people for physical distancing, as though we need to stay home just to protect them,” he says. “That kind of approach — where younger people are strong and healthy and older people aren’t — is too primitive and simplistic.”
While it is true that people age 65 and older are at higher risk for complications from the virus, many older adults are healthy and strong, says Alison Chasteen, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto. Further, she adds, “stereotypes about older people can breed behaviors that undermine their autonomy or physical strength.”
For example, thinking of all older adults as helpless can lead people to act in ageist ways, such as offering unwanted help, which sends the message that an older adult isn’t capable or independent, she says. It’s best to err on the side of caution by asking if they need help. “Even if our intentions are good, we need to always remember that people should have a sense of independence and autonomy — they can tell us if they need help.”
Over time, research shows, exposure to ageism is associated with higher cortisol levels, which can harm cognitive ability and increase inflammation, leading to overall poorer health, says Manfred Diehl, PhD, director of the Adult Development and Aging Project at Colorado State University. In addition, ageism among medical workers can also affect health-care decisions about older people. “We can see that doctors very often use chronological age in their decision-making process,” Diehl says. “This is where ageism gets very dangerous. Age alone shouldn’t be a criterion or cut-off point, but other criteria, such as comorbidities or pre-existing conditions, should be used.”
How can psychologists break down these unhealthy stereotypes? The first step is to recognize ageist perspectives and their effects. A commonly held ageist perspective is viewing all older people in the same category, says Levy.
“A lot of the rhetoric today homogenizes older people, acting as if they are all the same and not recognizing the variation within the older population,” she says.
At the same time, there is a lot of language right now presenting generations, “as if it’s ‘us versus them,’ which can amplify age stereotypes,” she adds. “It is important to think about how to address this ageism at a societal level.”
To foster intergenerational solidarity that benefits all parties, Wahl encourages psychologists to raise their voices about the detrimental impact of reducing older adults to just one category, share their research findings and advocate for older people in clinical settings. But the impetus to solidarity also lies in individual relationships.
“Some of the best ways to combat any ‘-ism’ is to build a personal relationship that challenges your stereotypical beliefs,” Neupert says. “All generations can learn equally from each other, so it’s time to start thinking about balanced, reciprocal solidarity where everyone has something to gain.”
It may be difficult to foster those relationships during physical distancing, but Chasteen encourages both young and older adults to make every effort to connect through personal contact during this unprecedented time of stress. Take time to send a letter or an email to a loved one. Call a neighbor. Talk across the fence in your backyard, even if just for a few minutes. All of these actions may seem simple, but they could have a long-term, positive impact on public health.
“This experience is affecting all of us, and we’re all in this together,” she says. “It’s for the benefit of society that we all work together to follow social distancing but try to maintain and promote contact in other ways.”
And another: https://extension.sdstate.edu/5-examples-everyday-ageism
This link is for the article below: https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/ageist-beliefs
For decades, psychologists’ research has shown that ageism undermines older adults’ mental and physical health by implying they are less capable and worthy of care. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has surfaced how ageism endangers all of society by dividing generations at a time when unity is particularly important.
“Ageism comes with a price, costing us the intergenerational solidarity that’s needed during during the current COVID-19 crisis,” says Hans-Werner Wahl, PhD, senior professor of psychology who studies aging at Heidelberg University in Germany.
Psychologists who study the effects of ageism have found that stereotypes directed at older adults affect all age groups. Becca Levy, PhD, professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health and professor of psychology at Yale University, who is credited with starting this field of research, has developed a framework to explain how age stereotypes affect older persons. Her research has found that children and young adults are often exposed to negative stereotypes about older people and that they apply these stereotypes to themselves when they get older, with adverse health consequences.
Ageist beliefs may be especially harmful during the COVID-19 pandemic, when messages about older people as frail and vulnerable are rampant. According to Shevaun Neupert, PhD, a professor of psychology at North Carolina State University, there’s a general message in society that anyone who is older is equally vulnerable and at risk for contracting the virus.
“This message of ‘stay home and protect your grandmother’ could both shape how younger people think about older adults now and how they themselves will think about being older as they age,” she says. “This is a transformational time to imagine how generations of people will experience aging now and in the future.”
Ageist stereotypes could also affect how generations relate to one another now. Wahl says viewing all older people as frail could cause younger people who view themselves as “lower risk” for becoming infected to resent older generations for the need for stay-at-home precautions.
“We need to avoid this tendency to blame older people for physical distancing, as though we need to stay home just to protect them,” he says. “That kind of approach — where younger people are strong and healthy and older people aren’t — is too primitive and simplistic.”
While it is true that people age 65 and older are at higher risk for complications from the virus, many older adults are healthy and strong, says Alison Chasteen, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto. Further, she adds, “stereotypes about older people can breed behaviors that undermine their autonomy or physical strength.”
For example, thinking of all older adults as helpless can lead people to act in ageist ways, such as offering unwanted help, which sends the message that an older adult isn’t capable or independent, she says. It’s best to err on the side of caution by asking if they need help. “Even if our intentions are good, we need to always remember that people should have a sense of independence and autonomy — they can tell us if they need help.”
Over time, research shows, exposure to ageism is associated with higher cortisol levels, which can harm cognitive ability and increase inflammation, leading to overall poorer health, says Manfred Diehl, PhD, director of the Adult Development and Aging Project at Colorado State University. In addition, ageism among medical workers can also affect health-care decisions about older people. “We can see that doctors very often use chronological age in their decision-making process,” Diehl says. “This is where ageism gets very dangerous. Age alone shouldn’t be a criterion or cut-off point, but other criteria, such as comorbidities or pre-existing conditions, should be used.”
Fighting ageist attitudes
As these mindsets toward older people continue to spread during the pandemic, Wahl is concerned about the threats to older people’s physical and mental well-being. “Along with the health crisis caused by COVID-19, we will likely see the rise of ageism negatively impact the health of older adults,” Wahl says. “We need to counteract this in strong terms.”How can psychologists break down these unhealthy stereotypes? The first step is to recognize ageist perspectives and their effects. A commonly held ageist perspective is viewing all older people in the same category, says Levy.
“A lot of the rhetoric today homogenizes older people, acting as if they are all the same and not recognizing the variation within the older population,” she says.
At the same time, there is a lot of language right now presenting generations, “as if it’s ‘us versus them,’ which can amplify age stereotypes,” she adds. “It is important to think about how to address this ageism at a societal level.”
To foster intergenerational solidarity that benefits all parties, Wahl encourages psychologists to raise their voices about the detrimental impact of reducing older adults to just one category, share their research findings and advocate for older people in clinical settings. But the impetus to solidarity also lies in individual relationships.
“Some of the best ways to combat any ‘-ism’ is to build a personal relationship that challenges your stereotypical beliefs,” Neupert says. “All generations can learn equally from each other, so it’s time to start thinking about balanced, reciprocal solidarity where everyone has something to gain.”
It may be difficult to foster those relationships during physical distancing, but Chasteen encourages both young and older adults to make every effort to connect through personal contact during this unprecedented time of stress. Take time to send a letter or an email to a loved one. Call a neighbor. Talk across the fence in your backyard, even if just for a few minutes. All of these actions may seem simple, but they could have a long-term, positive impact on public health.
“This experience is affecting all of us, and we’re all in this together,” she says. “It’s for the benefit of society that we all work together to follow social distancing but try to maintain and promote contact in other ways.”
