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Determinants of Ageism against Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Sibila Marques

    (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), CIS-IUL, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • João Mariano

    (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), CIS-IUL, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Joana Mendonça

    (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), CIS-IUL, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Wouter De Tavernier

    (Center for Social and Cultural Psychology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Moritz Hess

    (SOCIUM Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Laura Naegele

    (Department of Ageing and Work, Institute of Gerontology, University of Vechta, 49377 Vechta, Germany)

  • Filomena Peixeiro

    (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), CIS-IUL, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Daniel Martins

    (Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE58AF, UK)

Abstract

Ageism is a widespread phenomenon and constitutes a significant threat to older people’s well-being. Identifying the factors contributing to ageism is critical to inform policies that minimise its societal impact. In this systematic review, we gathered and summarised empirical studies exploring the key determinants of ageism against older people for a period of over forty years (1970–2017). A comprehensive search using fourteen databases identified all published records related to the umbrella concept of “ageism”. Reviewers independently screened the final pool to identify all papers focusing on determinants, according to a predefined list of inclusion and exclusion criteria. All relevant information was extracted and summarised following a narrative synthesis approach. A total of 199 papers were included in this review. We identified a total of 14 determinants as robustly associated with ageism. Of these, 13 have an effect on other-directed ageism, and one on self-directed ageism. The quality of contact with older people and the positive or negative presentation of older people to others emerged as the most robust determinants of other-directed ageism; self-directed ageism is mostly determined by older adults’ health status. Given the correlational nature of most studies included in this review, inferences on causality should be made cautiously.

Suggested Citation

  • Sibila Marques & João Mariano & Joana Mendonça & Wouter De Tavernier & Moritz Hess & Laura Naegele & Filomena Peixeiro & Daniel Martins, 2020. "Determinants of Ageism against Older Adults: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-27, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:7:p:2560-:d:343005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Vânia de la Fuente-Núñez & Ella Cohn-Schwartz & Senjooti Roy & Liat Ayalon, 2021. "Scoping Review on Ageism against Younger Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-24, April.
    4. Anna Sofia Bratt & Ann-Christine Petersson Hjelm & Matilda Wurm & Richard Huntley & Yoshihisa Hirakawa & Tsukasa Muraya, 2023. "A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research Literature and a Thematic Synthesis of Older LGBTQ People’s Experiences of Quality of Life, Minority Joy, Resilience, Minority Stress, Discrimination, and S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(13), pages 1-20, July.
    5. Marta Podhorecka & Anna Pyszora & Agnieszka Woźniewicz & Jakub Husejko & Kornelia Kędziora-Kornatowska, 2021. "Health and Protective Measures for Seniors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Opinion of Polish Society," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-19, September.
    6. Ella Cohn-Schwartz & Markus H. Schafer & Liat Ayalon, 2022. "Age integration in later life social networks and self-perceptions of aging: examining their reciprocal associations," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1145-1153, December.
    7. Ulrike Bechtold & Natalie Stauder & Martin Fieder, 2024. "Attitudes towards Technology: Insights on Rarely Discussed Influences on Older Adults’ Willingness to Adopt Active Assisted Living (AAL)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(5), pages 1-15, May.
    8. Keisuke Kokubun, 2024. "Relationships between six cultural scales and ten ageism dimensions: Correlation analysis using data from 31 countries," Papers 2408.04781, arXiv.org.
    9. Lotte P. Brinkhof & Sanne de Wit & Jaap M. J. Murre & Harm J. Krugers & K. Richard Ridderinkhof, 2022. "The Subjective Experience of Ageism: The Perceived Ageism Questionnaire (PAQ)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-21, July.

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