How will those who despise the elderly live their own old age?

Stereotyped and negative beliefs towards older people (age stereotypes) are widespread in people of all ages.

A recent study, carried out by researchers from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), the Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) and the National Distance Education University (UNED), all three in Spain, indicates that these negative beliefs about people The elderly are especially harmful in those individuals who consider themselves to be an elderly person.

According to the results obtained by the team led by María del Sequeros Pedroso-Chaparroa (UAM), stereotyped and negative beliefs against older people were related to greater unwanted loneliness in the group of older people who did consider themselves older, but not in those who did not.

Similarly, this was associated with greater emotional distress, including greater symptoms of anxiety, depression, and comorbid symptoms of anxiety and depression.

“For example, if a person believes that older people are a nuisance to society, can no longer learn new things, or have considerable physical deterioration, when they begin to consider themselves as an older person, how will they continue with their personal life? like up to now if it is a hindrance, it cannot learn new things and it will have physical deterioration?”, explain the authors of the study.

In other words, these stereotyped and negative beliefs about aging would be activated against the individual himself when he begins to consider himself older and this can promote greater emotional discomfort, including symptoms of anxiety, depression and loneliness.

You can reach old age and continue to be an active and useful person for the people around you. (Photo: Cade Martin/CDC/Dawn Arlotta)

The study subjects of the research were people between the ages of 60 and 88 who frequent centers where activities for the elderly are carried out in the Community of Madrid, specifically centers in Getafe and Fuenlabrada. As part of the methodology, surveys and moderated mediation models were used to analyze the data.

The results, in short, focus on the importance of negative beliefs about older people and the harmfulness of continuing to maintain them, both for older people who today consider themselves older and for those who may come to consider themselves as such in the future. future.

“Aging is a very heterogeneous process that is not inevitably associated with illness, dependency or loneliness. Therefore, showing a vision that is more adjusted to the reality of older people can be key in preventing the appearance of health problems (physical and mental) in old age. Likewise, working to promote better health in the elderly today must include re-education in beliefs that are less prone to ageist stereotypes”, conclude the authors of the study.

The study is titled “’I feel old and have aging stereotypes’. Internalized aging stereotypes and older adults’ mental health: the mediational role of loneliness”. And it has been published in the academic journal Aging & Mental Health. (Source: UAM)