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Pre-pandemic Ageism Toward Older Adults Predicts Behavioral Intentions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Ashley Lytle
  • MaryBeth Apriceno
  • Jamie Macdonald
  • Caitlin Monahan
  • Sheri R Levy

Abstract

ObjectivesDuring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, older adults have been disproportionately affected by high rates of health complications and mortality. Reactions toward older adults included a mix of prosocial behaviors and ageist responses, consistent with the history of positive and negative views and treatment of older adults in the United States.MethodsIn a two-part study (n = 113, Mage = 18.49, SD = 0.50; range 18–19), we examined whether pre-pandemic ageism among undergraduates predicts prosocial behavioral intentions toward older adults both specific to COVID-19 and in general.ResultsPre-pandemic ageism toward older adults predicted less intentions to help older adults generally and specific to COVID-19. Whereas viewing older adults as incompetent predicted greater intentions to help specific to COVID-19.DiscussionThese results reflect the complexity of predicting helping behaviors and suggest that even supportive behaviors toward older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic may be rooted in negative ageist stereotypes. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ashley Lytle & MaryBeth Apriceno & Jamie Macdonald & Caitlin Monahan & Sheri R Levy, 2022. "Pre-pandemic Ageism Toward Older Adults Predicts Behavioral Intentions During the COVID-19 Pandemic," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 77(4), pages 11-15.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:77:y:2022:i:4:p:e11-e15.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbaa210
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    Cited by:

    1. Emilio Paolo Visintin & Alessandra Tasso, 2022. "Are You Willing to Protect the Health of Older People? Intergenerational Contact and Ageism as Predictors of Attitudes toward the COVID-19 Vaccination Passport," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Jennifer Kosiol & Gabriela Di Perna, 2023. "Watching Relationships Build over Time: A Video Analysis of a Hybrid Intergenerational Practice Program," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-12, February.

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