Department of Gerontology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
LeadingAge, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Gerontologist. 2024 Feb 1;64(2). doi: 10.1093/geront/gnad062.
Aging includes multidimensional and multidirectional changes in biology, psychology, and social roles. With aging, individuals experience physiological changes that affect ability, stamina, and reserve capacity. Given the natural occurrence of physical decline accompanying aging, it is essential to understand if fear and prejudice toward disability (ableism) intersect and influence fear and anxiety about aging (ageism).
A cross-sectional survey study was conducted using ResearchMatch for study recruitment, 913 individuals responded to questions regarding 3 types of ageism, including affinity for older people, internalized ageism, and relational ageism, as well as internalized and relational ableism.
Internalized ageism was significantly associated with relational ageism, fear of physical disability, fear of cognitive disability, and affinity for older people. Relational ageism was associated with internalized ageism, relational ableism, fear of physical disability, fear of sensory disability, fear of cognitive disability, and affinity for older people.
Examining the intersection of ageism and ableism represents the next pivotal juncture to developing effective anti-ageism interventions that address the root anxieties influencing negative attitudes about aging and fears of growing older. Public policy initiatives to address community-level interventions and targeted training to inform discourse that addresses the intersection between ageism and ableism are critical to addressing these issues and promoting age and ability inclusivity.
衰老是生物学、心理学和社会角色的多维和多方向变化。随着年龄的增长，个体经历影响能力、耐力和储备能力的生理变化。鉴于伴随衰老而来的身体衰退是自然发生的，因此了解对残疾的恐惧和偏见（能力歧视）是否与对衰老的恐惧和焦虑（年龄歧视）交叉并产生影响至关重要。
使用 ResearchMatch 进行了一项横断面调查研究，以招募研究对象，913 人回答了关于 3 种年龄歧视的问题，包括对老年人的亲和力、内化年龄歧视和关系年龄歧视，以及内化和关系能力歧视。
内化年龄歧视与关系年龄歧视显著相关，与对身体残疾的恐惧、对认知残疾的恐惧以及对老年人的亲和力相关。关系年龄歧视与内化年龄歧视、关系能力歧视、对身体残疾的恐惧、对感官残疾的恐惧、对认知残疾的恐惧以及对老年人的亲和力相关。
研究年龄歧视和能力歧视的交叉点代表了发展有效反年龄歧视干预措施的下一个关键阶段，这些干预措施可以解决影响对衰老的负面态度和对变老的恐惧的根本焦虑。解决这些问题和促进年龄和能力包容性的公共政策倡议，包括解决社区层面的干预措施和提供有针对性的培训以告知解决年龄歧视和能力歧视交叉问题的论述，都是至关重要的。
