Attitudes Toward Aging
Abstract
Four theoretical explanations for the existence of negative attitudes toward the old, (1) poor life satisfaction as measured by loss in socioeconomic status, poor health and financial insecurity, (2) nearness to death of the elderly, (3) inability to reflect American values of achievement, productivity, and independence and (4) age stratification were investigated. This study, based on an earlier study by Collette-Pratt(1976), attempted to find differences in attitudes toward aging among three generational groups--young college adults (n=810), middle-aged adults (n=51), and older adults (n=58) by administration to each group of a facts quiz (Palmore, 1977) and an attitude inventory developed by the author. In addition, because it was assumed that young adults would show the most negative feelings toward old age, an attitude manipulation was attempted by allowing some college student subjects to view a film depicting aging positively and then to retake the facts quiz and attitude inventory.
No significant differences in total score on the attitude inventory were found among groups that would indicate increasing devaluation of old age across generations. The amount of knowledge of aging, however, appeared to increase with age. The main effect of film (experimental) group vs. no film (control) group on attitude score was not significant, although the sex x group interaction was, in that males became somewhat more negative while females became more positive about old age in both groups. Few of the potential devaluing factors that had been investigated appeared relevant to attitudes about the elderly.
Description
Program year: 1977-1978Digitized from print original stored in HDR
Subject
old ageaging
negative attitudes
generational groups
devaluing factors
knowledge of aging
attitude manipulation
gender
Citation
Archer, Kerstin Ann (1978). Attitudes Toward Aging. University Undergraduate Fellows. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /CAPSTONE -ArcherK _1978.