Using social media-based positive education to challenge negative stereotypes of aging: a quasi-experimental approach

Negative stereotypes towards aging are widespread, and positive psychoeducation could play a role in reducing these beliefs. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of positive psychoeducation regarding aging, disseminated through social media channels, in mitigating negative stereotypes. Additionally, it seeks to explore potential associations between various sociodemographic variables and the prevalence of negative stereotypes towards the elderly.

A quasi-experimental design was used, with an experimental group undergoing a 7-day intervention. Daily positive messages about aging were posted on a social media account, and the impact on negative stereotypes was assessed both before and after the intervention using the Questionnaire for Evaluating Negative Stereotypes towards Aging. Sociodemographic data were collected through an additional questionnaire. A snowball sampling method via social media recruited 109 participants.

Participants who followed the intervention demonstrated a reduction in negative stereotypes, as evidenced by lower scores on the questionnaire. No significant interaction was found between sociodemographic variables and changes in stereotypes before and after the intervention.

Positive psychoeducation through social media shows promise in reducing negative stereotypes about aging. Although the study has limitations, the findings suggest that educational efforts on social media can positively influence attitudes towards aging and potentially enhance well-being across different age groups.

The Clinical Trial Registration Number for the study titled 'Positive Education through Social Media to Reduce Negative Stereotypes towards Old Age A QuasiExperimental Study' is NCT06574243. It was retrospectively registered on August 23, 2024."