Contrasting negative stereotypes against aging through a silent disco event: an ecological study

Ageism and stigma toward individuals with dementia contribute to their social exclusion and negatively impact their well-being. Intergenerational interventions, particularly those based on shared enjoyable experiences, have shown potential in reducing negative stereotypes. This study explored whether a Silent Disco event could challenge ageism and dementia-related stigma by fostering positive intergroup contact.

The study assessed the effectiveness of an intergenerational Silent Disco event in reducing ageism and stigma among young adults (21-40 years, M = 32.76 ± 4.70), middle-aged adults (41-60, years M = 51.21 ± 5.88), and young-old adults (61-80 years, M = 66.67 ± 6.10).

A 6-item questionnaire with two subscales-"Non-inclusion" and "Unpleasantness of company"-was administered to 115 participants before and after the event to measure negative stereotypes about aging and dementia. Changes in attitudes were analyzed across age groups.

The event reduced stigma-related unpleasantness in the total sample (p = .020) and ageism-related unpleasantness among middle-aged participants (p = .011). However, no statistically significant changes were observed in non-inclusion perceptions for either ageism or stigma.

These findings indicate that intergenerational Silent Disco events help reduce specific negative stereotypes-particularly unpleasant perceptions of older adults and people with dementia-with the strongest reduction in ageism-related unpleasantness seen in middle-aged participants. However, the persistence of non-inclusion attitudes highlights the need for broader interventions to address social exclusion.

Silent Disco events show potential in challenging stereotypes and fostering inclusivity, but additional strategies are needed to promote deeper intergenerational engagement and social inclusion.