Facing age stigmatization: The impact on self-esteem and the role of protective strategies among older adults.
(2009) 19th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics — Location: Paris, France (5.July.2009)
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- Abstract
- Introduction: This study examines the impact of positive versus negative age-related experiences on self-esteem and emotional well-being among older adults. Previous work demonstrated the harmful consequences of negative aging stereotypes on older adults’performance (memory, functional abilities). This research explores the effects of actual age stigmatization situations lived by older adults on their self-esteem and emotional feelings, and the strategies they use to protect their self-concept. Method: Data were collected with a research questionnaire from 92 older community-dwelling adults (68-96 years) in order to address three issues. First, we gathered free descriptions of age discrimination versus valorization experiences that older adults actually encounter in everyday life (rather than confronting them to an age-related threat manipulation). Second, we examined the impact of age-related experiences on older adults’self-esteem and emotional well-being. Specifically, we hypothesized that age discrimination situations would have a detrimental effect on state self-esteem and emotional responses while expecting positive effects of age valorization experiences, compared to control condition. Finally, we investigated the role played by social factors (aging self-stereotypes, age group identification) and individual characteristics (positive self-perceptions of aging, identity processes) in order to better understand the link between age stigmatization and self-esteem in later life. Results: As expected, results showed a negative effect of age discrimination experiences on self-esteem and emotional well-being among older participants and a positive impact of age valorization. The social and personal strategies that moderate the effects of age stigmatization need further analyses. Conclusion: These findings offer evidence that age stereotypes and stigmatization not only lead to performance decrements among older adults but also harm their state self-esteem and emotional well-being. Risk and protective factors among the aged population facing age stigmatization are discussed.
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Masse, M., & Meire, P. (2009). Facing age stigmatization: The impact on self-esteem and the role of protective strategies among older adults. Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 13(suppl. 1), S185-S186. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/65453 (Original work published 2009)