Understanding Ageism and Discrimination
Author Information
Author(s): Hanes Douglas
Primary Institution: Stony Brook University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Who identifies with age-based discrimination and how do intersecting marginalized identities influence this identification?
Conclusion
Certain identity groups and experiences increase the likelihood of individuals perceiving themselves as victims of ageism.
Supporting Evidence
- Age predicted a small increased likelihood of ageism (OR = 1.08; p < 0.001).
- More frequent discrimination decreased the likelihood of reporting ageism (OR = 0.877, p < 0.001).
- People of color were less likely to report ageism than non-Hispanic whites (OR = 0.552, p < 0.002).
- Whites who reported race-based discrimination had greater odds of also reporting ageism (OR = 1.563, p < 0.001).
- Women were more likely to report ageism (OR = 1.139; p = 0.002).
- Reporting gender-based discrimination increased ageism probability for both women (OR = 2.318, p < 0.001) and men (OR = 3.037, p < 0.001).
Takeaway
Some people feel discriminated against because of their age, especially if they have other identities that are marginalized.
Methodology
Participants from the Health and Retirement Study were asked about their discrimination experiences, and multilevel logistic regressions were used to analyze the data.
Participant Demographics
Participants included a diverse group with varying racial and gender identities.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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