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Attitudes towards aging and physical health
W L Milligan1, L Prescott, D A Powell
1Neuroscience Laboratory, VA Medical Center, Columbia 29201.
Experimental Aging Research
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Negative attitudes toward aging are often linked to perceptions of poor health, not just age itself. Interestingly, older individuals sometimes view younger profiles more favorably than older ones.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Gerontology
- Social Science
Background:
- Attitudes towards aging are complex and influenced by various factors.
- Previous research has explored ageism, but the interplay of health perceptions and age is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how age and physical health influence attitudes toward aging.
- To examine age-based differences in perceptions of hypothetical individuals.
Main Methods:
- Four hypothetical profiles varying in age and health status were created.
- Participants of different ages (young, middle-aged, old) rated these profiles using the Rosencrantz and McNevin semantic differential scale.
- No significant gender effects were observed.
Main Results:
- All age groups rated individuals in poor health more negatively than healthy individuals.
- Older respondents showed a preference for younger profiles over older ones.
- Young and middle-aged respondents rated older profiles more positively than younger ones.
Conclusions:
- Physical health status significantly contributes to negative attitudes towards the aged.
- Older respondents may exhibit more negative attitudes towards the aged compared to younger respondents, irrespective of health status.
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