REFRAMING AGING: THE IMPACT OF LABELS ON ATTITUDES TOWARD OLDER ADULTS
2024
The Impact of Labels on Attitudes Toward Older Adults
Sample size: 512
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Vale Michael, Bjelka Ava
Primary Institution: Sacred Heart University
Hypothesis
How do different labels affect perceptions of older adults?
Conclusion
Labels significantly influence how older adults are perceived, particularly in terms of offensiveness and competence.
Supporting Evidence
- Middle-aged participants found the labels most offensive.
- Older participants were particularly offended by labels like 'elderly' or 'old'.
- 'Old' was rated more appropriate for women, while 'Boomer' was rated more appropriate for men.
- Young adults viewed targets most warmly.
Takeaway
The words we use to describe older people can change how we think about them, and some labels can be hurtful.
Methodology
Participants completed an online experiment where they read a vignette with manipulated labels and gender.
Limitations
Further analysis will be conducted on a larger sample size (N<900).
Participant Demographics
Participants ranged in age from 18 to 91, including young, middle-aged, and older adults.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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