Age and health bias in practicing clinical psychologists

Although ageism is widely cited as a problem in mental health delivery, it is unknown whether practitioner biases are related to factors such as physical health. A randomly drawn national sample of experienced practicing doctoral-level psychologists (N = 371) responded to detailed vignettes of a client presenting with symptoms of depression, in which age (35 years or 70 years) and health (unremarkable or poor) were manipulated. Respondents completed ratings involving professional and interpersonal judgments about the hypothetical client. Results revealed some evidence for age bias, but much stronger effects indicating health biases regardless of client age. Because depressed older persons often present with concomitant health problems, health bias among clinicians is especially relevant for older patients. Implications for service delivery to older adults, and individuals with health problems, are discussed.