A GENDER-BASED MULTI-METHODS SECONDARY STUDY OF AGE STEREOTYPES

Abstract

With the aging population, it is vital to understand how the psychosocial environment influences the well-being of the population. Aging is more than just physical change; it is also a psychosocial construct. Age-based stereotypes are a major component of age discrimination, or ageism. Age stereotypes, particularly negative ones, can influence the behaviour and well-being of the older population. Like aging, gender is socially constructed and can also influence one’s health and overall well-being. The purpose of this study is to explore how age stereotypes associated with the target words ‘senior’ and ‘older’ may be gendered and how they change across increasing age groups.