A Terror Management Perspective on Young Adults' Ageism and Attitudes toward Dementia

Autor/inn/en	O'Connor, Melissa L.; McFadden, Susan H.
Titel	A Terror Management Perspective on Young Adults' Ageism and Attitudes toward Dementia
Quelle	In: Educational Gerontology, 38 (2012) 9, S.627-643 (17 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0360-1277
DOI	10.1080/03601277.2011.595335
Schlagwörter	Alzheimers Disease; Empathy; Young Adults; Health Conditions; Vignettes; Age Differences; College Students; Death; Student Attitudes; Affective Behavior; Emotional Response; Questionnaires; Measures (Individuals); Gerontology; Older Adults; Aging (Individuals); Data Analysis; Fear; Behavior Theories; Age Discrimination; Attitudes toward Disabilities; Dementia + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Empathie; Young adult; Junger Erwachsener; Age; Difference; Age difference; Altersunterschied; Collegestudent; Sterbefall; Tod; Todesfall; Schülerverhalten; Affective disturbance; Active behaviour; Affektive Störung; Emotionales Verhalten; Fragebogen; Messdaten; Gerontologie; Älterer Erwachsener; Aging; Altern; Auswertung; Furcht; Demenz
Abstract	According to Terror Management Theory as applied to ageism, older adults may be associated with mortality, thereby generating death-thought accessibility, stereotypes, and mixed emotions among younger adults. However, it is unclear how older adults' health conditions, such as dementia, affect ageist attitudes and mortality salience. In the current study, college student participants (N = 240) read descriptions of hypothetical target persons. Target age (29 or 71) and health status (normal, unknown, arthritis, or dementia) were manipulated. Participants then rated targets on stereotype content dimensions of competence and warmth; rated their emotions toward the targets; and completed a measure of death-thought accessibility. Results (p less than 0.05 for all) indicated that, relative to younger targets, older targets triggered lower competence ratings, higher warmth ratings, greater death-thought accessibility, and more empathy and pity. Targets with dementia generated lower competence ratings, higher warmth ratings, greater death-thought accessibility, and more fear, empathy, and pity than targets with normal and/or unknown health. Older targets with dementia (i.e., Alzheimer's disease) received higher pity ratings than all other targets, and participants reported more death-related thoughts for older vs. younger targets with dementia. The current study supports Terror Management Theory as an explanation for ageism, and illustrates how ageism among young adults is affected by health conditions like dementia. (Contains 4 tables and 3 figures.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10